BBC: Foetuses found at Bogota airport (thought for use in Satanic rituals)

[truthpusher]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4293934.stm

Police said the foetuses might have been meant for Satanic rituals

Foetuses found at Bogota airport
----------------
Colombian police have found the bodies of three human foetuses hidden in statues destined for the United States.
----------------

(snip)

The corpses were wrapped in plastic and concealed inside statues of Christian icons, which were smashed open.

Colombian police chief Gen Jord Alirio Varon said the four- to five-month-old foetuses could have been intended for use in Satanic rituals.

Gen Varon said the foetuses were found alongside crucifixes and medals.

He said officials are trying to find out who sent the packages, which came from Barranquilla in Colombia and were destined for Miami in the US.

complete story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4293934.stm

[Coventina]

1. Words fail me on this one.

:puke:

[truthpusher]

5. me too....

...I wasn't quite sure what the response would be to this story. Knowing DU, I am sure they will see something here that I could not.

[Fridays Child]

2. So, the Bush family's regular shipment will be delayed this month?

[spooked911]

40. Indeed.

[RebelOne]

3. If they were bound for Miami, they were probably for

Santeria rituals, which is common practice for the Cubans and Haitians there.

[Fridays Child]

4. Santeria rituals?

Do Santeria adherents practice human sacrifice or blood rituals?

[Coventina]

6. Santeria does utilize animal sacrifice.

As far as human sacrifice goes, I had not heard that.

But these guys were already dead, so how could they be "human sacrifices"?

It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

:shrug:

[Fridays Child]

14. I guess using dead fetuses is as close as you can get to human...

...sacrifice without actually murdering people.

[frictionlessO]

19. Those animals become dinner.

I have a lot of respect for the practioners of Santeria.

and this doesn't make any sense to me either...

[Coventina]

23. I wasn't trying to slam Santeria. I hope my post didn't come across that

way.

I respect folk religions and traditions, as long as they are respectful of the planet at large. As far as I know of Santeria, it seems that the animals are not subjected to torture. Their death is quick and as you point out, they are then consumed, not wasted.

Traditional Chinese medicine, on the other hand, seems determined to make many species extinct. That is something I WOULD like to see stopped.

[frictionlessO]

26. Concur and thank you....

I get real defensive about these spiritual paths being jumped to as soon as someone says Satanism.

Perhaps I spoke a bit harshly.. apologies.

[RebelOne]

43. I was only speculating, since Santeria is very popular in So. Fla.

[yankeeinlouisiana]

58. No, Santeria does not use

human sacrifices!!

[sui generis]

7. maybe not as sinister as you think

"satanic rituals" (I am chuckling)

These could be used as wards or protections against miscarriage or for a healthy pregnancy.

(or they might be the babies of robotic vampire lesbian aliens)

I guess what really matters is how they came to be dead in the first place, not "satanic rituals" - miscarriages or foul play?

[Fridays Child]

15. True.

[frictionlessO]

22. Thank you for that very level headed comment.

Much needed before people get all out a sorts about everything that they think comes under "Satanism"...

[frictionlessO]

18. Uhmm Santeria does NOT in any way shape or form promote the use of human

sacrifice and I dont think fetal corpses are thought highly upon either.

The animal sacrifices they make become dinner, so other than using their grub in actual ritual they are not deserving of this allegation.

[tainowarrior]

42. Santeria does not use human sacrifices

I've heard of animal sacrifices, but Santeros are not satanic worshippers or have any evil in their religion. They are sometimes a little backwards in their religious prohibitions with women (women can't touch certain things because they're "unclean" and stuff like that), but they're generally good, "be in harmony" types.

This is not Santeria, and Haitians practice mostly Vodun (voodoo), not Santeria. Santeria is a Cuban offshoot of Nigerian-descendant slaves. It's basically worshipping Elegua, Oshun, Yemaya, Obalue, and other Nigerian (Yoruba ethnic group in particular) gods under the cover of Christian "saints", hence the world "Santero" (Saint Worshipper). It was done that way to fool the Spanish white masters into thinking they were worshipping Catholic deities.

[yankeeinlouisiana]

59. Hey, you know your stuff!

I've never heard of women not being able to perform ritual because they're were unclean, instead it was the fear of prenancy. Trust me, this stuff works.

Yemaya child here.

:-)

[hiley]

8. don't know

what to say, either.
:argh:

[calimary]

20. I do - I'm just waiting for robertson, falwell and Focus on the Pharisees

to start aggitating for the US to launch a holy war down there. Gee, I'm surprised bush hasn't already sent in the Marines. :eyes:

[redqueen]

47. "Focus on the Pharisees"

LOVE IT!

:rofl:

[Mandate My Ass]

9. they could have been intended for anything

for Christian burial, perhaps, which would explain the statues and such.

I find the hairs on the back of my neck rise when people put aborted fetuses and devil worship together without any supporting evidence. I'm surprised at BBC for reporting a conjecture for motive that's kind of "out there."

[truthpusher]

10. That makes more sense to me...

...remember the church recently that made a deal in colorado to bury the abortion waste from a clinic...

[Coventina]

11. While it is true that the intended use is not known, the circumstances are

certainly suspect.

They could have been given a Christian burial there in Columbia. No need to smuggle them inside of statues to another country.

:shrug:

[Mandate My Ass]

13. the circumstances are indeed suspect

and this certainly warrants an investigation, but I find that wild conjecture of a devil worship motive to be somewhat irresponsible.

[Coventina]

16. I definitely agree with you that "devil worship" is needlessly thrown

around a lot.

Someone up thread mentioned the possibility of parts being used as fertility charms or such in "folk religions". Which I actually think is a pretty good conjecture.

This IMHO, puts it on the level of Chinese folk medicine, using ground up tiger penises and such. Reprehensible and gross, but not "devil worship."

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. Why couldn't a 'Christian burial' happen in Colombia?

I don't see why you'd go to the lengths of concealing them inside statues for something that could be done perfectly easily in the original country.

[mccoyn]

25. A US congregation might want in on the fad.

And they are unable to obtain them domestically. Not a great theory, but it makes as much sense as devil worship.

[Ferry Fey]

34. For political rituals?

What about use for political rituals? The anti-choice protesters have to get their shock props somewhere.

Note that five months is about how old the Santorum family fetus was when they allowed their young children (ages 6, 4 and 1 1/2) to cuddle, sing to, and dress the day-old baby's body.

[bleedingheart]

36. see my post #32

I suspect it might be a method of burying a miscarried unbaptized baby....by encasing it in a religous sculpture it becomes blessed...

Perhaps they are not buried because they are more religously significant if kept like this...similar to keeping an urn of a loved one in a home.

I know it sounds strange and I am only guessing..

[frictionlessO]

38. Possible... but please check my post 37...

Your possibility does have some empathetic logic to it...
Wonder if we can find something historical on it.

[Judi Lynn]

17. The Ft. Worth Star Telegram has made the jump to a more assertive

position on their intended use, (still, however unknown!):

Posted on Wed, Sep. 28, 2005
Colombian police find human fetuses hidden in parcel bound for U.S.

By CESAR GARCIA

The Associated Press


BOGOTA, Colombia -- Police searching couriered packages for contraband made a chilling discovery on Wednesday: three human fetuses wrapped in plastic and concealed inside porcelain statues of Christian saints.

Colombia's anti-narcotics police chief, Gen. Jorge Baron, said the 4- to 5-month-old fetuses were found at Bogota's international airport, inside a cardboard box alongside crucifixes.

The package was being sent from Colombia's northern city of Barranquilla and was destined for Miami, apparently for use in satanic rituals, he said.

Police seized the fetuses. Baron said officials do not know where they came from and did not provide details on why he believed they were intended for satanic rituals.
(snip/...)

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/12764339.htm
(Free registration required)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By the way, a great personality for some posters here who knew him in earlier days on the old CNN US/Cuba Relations message board, a poster who came from Colombia, and has lived in Miami, says Santería is very big in Miami among certain elements of the Cuban "exile" community, who practise it with grim determination.

[frictionlessO]

24. I've been involved with Santerian rituals on numerous occasions

and quite frankly think that person whom you cite at the bottom of your post is not only full of shit with that "grim determination" spin, I'd also be willing to bet he's a seriously devout Catholic who would think that a chicken sacrifice is wrong on so many levels and then go home and have some BBQ'd for dinner.

Santeria is big in many communities along the gulf as is many different hybrids and off shoots of native spiritualities that have combined their folklore with Catholic Deism of Saints.

[Judi Lynn]

29. I chose the expression "grim determination," not he. I took liberties.

HE did say there are many unshakable adherents, practitioners, or whatever. This was mentioned around five years ago, you must forgive my clumsiness in not conveying his exact words.

[frictionlessO]

35. Well Judi there is nothing very grim about it, not anymore than many

farmyards and religious practices.

People of faith in most religious that are among the most devout in their sect are rather unshakeable. Look at any religioun inspired conflict and you'll see people cling ever more fiercely to their faith as it comes under question and or attack.

Sorta similar to how I have posted all over this thread. Though I am not a practitioner of this particular path myself.

Forgiven...

[mzteris]

21. Who were they being

shipped TO?

Wouldn't that answer a lot of questions? Find out who was getting them and investigate from that end.......

[bleedingheart]

27. I bet it is some sort of burial ritual

Being raised Roman Catholic around a lot of very superstituous and ritualistic Catholics...I would not be suprised if this was some method of burial.

Now I am only guessing, but let us think of the fact that there are many christian churches all over the world that have the body parts of saints on display....and no one says they are satanic.
In fact there are people who want to kiss that dead stuff...to ward off evil.

[Coventina]

30. That makes total sense, except for the international smuggling part

I could understand the parents doing that, if they do practice that sort of Catholocism. In fact, if it brought them comfort, I would say that it would even be a good thing.

But I just don't get the international smuggling aspect.

[bleedingheart]

32. The article says that in the process of looking for contraband

that the officers came upon this discovery and I bet smashed the statues open thinking they were probably made of compress cocaine...but got a different surprise altogether.

I would only venture to guess that perhaps someone who did have possession of the statues died or moved and wanted these perhaps sacred articles brought to where they are or where someone else would care for them.

I also am wondering if this isn't some sort of burial rite for the unbaptized. A miscarried and dead child would not be entitled to baptism and perhaps encasing the bodies in the statues was a way to make them holy??? Just a guess...and of course I have my vivid imagination regarding these issues due in part to my crazy upbringing...my father's family were seriously superstituous catholics...even believed in vampires and other stuff...funny bunch..

[muriel_volestrangler]

44. Perhaps, but I wonder about 3 of them

at the same stage of development. Perhaps the family of one miscarried foetus would do this, but would one family really have 3 they want to move?

[bleedingheart]

50. many good questions...

could have been miscarried triplets...
could be that the various statues were of different ages...

as one individual stated above it could be a religous fetish object..and a collector may have ordered them...

anyone's guess...

[daleo]

28. Maybe for Christian anti-abortion protesters propaganda

Models for gory pictures? I am half joking.

[Judi Lynn]

31. They do have that large panel truck they've covered with photos

of aborted fetusus which they are proud to drive around cities. I think its home base is Wichita, Ks.

Could be they're looking for new photos, since everyone has seen the old ones!

[Megahurtz]

53. But you may be right. n/t

[maxsolomon]

33. will DU's satanist contingent weigh in?

what do you use dead fetuses for?

i smell a bit of hysteria here...

[frictionlessO]

37. Well Im no Satanist but a world traveler of spiritual faiths and honestly

the hysteria has been pretty quickly calmed.

As for use of dead fetuses, there are several possibilties, fetish magick being one.. probably sympathetic in nature read upthread for a quick explanation.

Im thinking that this might have been bound for some of those f*cked up collectors of such things. We have many here in the states that are rich and have a thing for curios they are not really supposed to have.

Let me put it this way, why would they ship them when a truly sinister group of "evil religion"
types could do it themselves.. shipping anything illegal is fraught with peril and that could lead back to the intended receiver. No, too many loose ends are open if you were to outsource this kinda thing for religio purposes.

Add to that that this type of smuggling ha sbeen used for decades to transport illicit drugs, meaning someone was going to be paying a whole lot of cash for these unborn corpses. I dont think most "evil inclined" cults have that kinda cash.

Now if we were to get into the freaky Frat Cults like Skull and Bones... well that I might believe.

[zara]

39. Weren't Satanists responsible for NOLA mayhem, too?

Oh sorry, the mayhem part has been debunked recently.
Well the Satanists are always there when a target is needed.

[spooked911]

41. Does anyone think we'll ever find out to whom they were being shipped?

Particularly if they weren't destined for some bizarre "foreigner" but rather a "regular" American?

[insane_cratic_gal]

45. dumb question? Dead Lamas?

the spelling foetuses as in Lamas or animals? or Fetuses? Is that glaring typo? not proof read by BBC? or some bizarre slang I've yet to hear?

Either way I have learnt something new today, but ewwwwwwwww

[FlaGranny]

46. Actually the spelling "fetus" is American.

"foetus" is the way it's spelled everywhere else BUT here.

[insane_cratic_gal]

52. ahh thanks

showing my ignorance I suppose.:blush:

[FlaGranny]

56. Many words of Greek and Latin

origin (like most of the words used in medicine) are spelled our own American way. The rest of the world has stuck with original spellings more than we have.

Don't feel bad. Most people wouldn't know that. ;-)

[crispini]

48. Now that's just weird.

I don't quite know what to think. Hope there is a follow-up with more info.

[Busshianic]

49. AP says "Apparently for use in satanic rituals" not "could have been"

Colombian police find human fetuses hidden in parcel bound for U.S.
The Associated Press
(snip)
BOGOTA, Colombia -- Police searching couriered packages for contraband made a chilling discovery on Wednesday: three human fetuses wrapped in plastic and concealed inside porcelain statues of Christian saints.

Colombia's anti-narcotics police chief, Gen. Jorge Baron, said the 4- to 5-month-old fetuses were found at Bogota's international airport, inside a cardboard box alongside crucifixes.

The package was being sent from Colombia's northern city of Barranquilla and was destined for Miami, apparently for use in satanic rituals, he said.

Police seized the fetuses. Baron said officials do not know where they came from and did not provide details on why he believed they were intended for satanic rituals.

continued

BBC Says

Colombian police chief Gen Jord Alirio Varon said the four- to five-month-old foetuses could have been intended for use in Satanic rituals.



Interesting little discrepancy...

Edit: the titles are interesting too

The Associated Press
Posted on Wed, Sep. 28, 2005
Colombian police find human fetuses hidden in parcel bound for U.S.

BBC
Last Updated: Thursday, 29 September 2005, 13:18 GMT 14:18 UK
Foetuses found at Bogota airport

[frictionlessO]

51. Whoah! Nice catch!

Hmmm.... now I wonder why they would do that.











(wee lil' bit of sarcasm there)

[MrPrax]

54. From The Land of Weeping Statutes,...

the Mapinguari and God Imprinted Tortillas...comes Satanic Foetuses!

Yeah I believe this...
:eyes:

Wonder if they are having elections or something?

[FranMonet]

55. satanic stem cell research

I heard satanist are getting into stem cell
research now days. I wish I had a dime for
every time some fundamentalist tries to blame
satanist for some crime,I'd be rich

[kimchi]

57. Hi FranMonet!

Welcome to DU.

I'd be rich, too. Especially if we also got a dime for everytime Wicca was (IM0, deliberately) confused with "devil worship". DU could buy our own island!