Legal Question in Business Law in Virginia

Animal Rights

2C1-The Disciples of Druid Church( DODC) has some 50,000 members world wide and 20, 000 within the USA. The Woodbridge congregation of the DODC rents the basement of a local church to hold religious services. As part of all DODC worship there is ritual killing of a chicken at the High Solstice observance twice a year. The chicken is not eaten but is disposed of after the service. The county of Prince William Virginia has an county ordinance which makes it a misdemeanor''to unnecessarily kill, torment, torture, or mutilate an animal in a public or private ritual or ceremony not for the primary purpose of food consumption.'' . After such chicken sacrifice the High Priest who performed the killing is charged with misdemeanor charge of violating the ordinance. Although only subject to a $250 fine the Priest contests the case asserting the statute is a violation of the constitutional ban against state interference with religion. Who wins?


Asked on 1/16/09, 6:08 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Animal Rights

The chicken neck wringer. (The U.S Supreme Court has already decided a similar case in Florida that involved Rastafarians or some other religious cult group involved with animal sacrifice. The court ruled for the cult.)

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Answered on 1/16/09, 9:07 pm


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