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[Lee Haslup <biglee AT haslups.com>]

Steven Champeon wrote:

> So, a Satan worshipper should be able to use Food Stamps to buy a goat
> that is to be sacrificed in a Black Mass? But only if the participants
> eat and derive nourishment therein? That's ridiculous, don't you think?
>
>  
Ah yes, satanists... Apparently they are more of a problem than they 
appear.  At the least hint of accommodation to the religious we are 
warned of droves of satanists, standing patiently in queues, waiting to 
apply for equal treatment.  I have no doubt that, but for the vigilance 
of the church-and-state types, we should all be overrun. 

> > ... I am at least sympathetic to the argument that those 
> > little white wafers are more properly an intriguing form of edible 
> > styrofoam and that they fail the "food" test.  I would not be 
> > particularly upset by a decision that forbids the use of food stamps to 
> > buy communion bread as long as it was narrowly worded. 
> >    
>
> I'd say the point more properly should be stated in terms of its use
> in a /ritual/. Especially a ritual in which the participants believe,
> for the sake of an argument, that said wafer is transformed through an
> act of holy magic into the body of Jesus Christ, and therefore cannot,
> without violating some statute or another, be considered "eating food".
It is embarrassing to admit that I had altogether forgotten the 
overarching public need to prevent "rituals".  You won't rat me out, 
will you?

Lee