Eztli, Priest of Lord Ometecuhtli et. al. v. Oregon
Narration: In recent years, there has been what some have called a “third great awakening” of Neo-Aztec religion. While some have called it a cult, its adherents, like this man, proclaim it to be the new future of global culture.
Neo-Aztec Man: I believe, wholeheartedly, that this is the way of life we all ought to follow. Before I found the gods, I was lost in the modern world. I was looking for humanity in a world devoid of life. But now, I can see. The gods demand sacrifice, and without it, they will tear our world asunder. That’s why I devoted my life to appeasing their wrath, so the world may continue to prosper.
Narration: Of course, this religious revival is not without controversy. Most contentious, of course, is the faith’s central tenet of ritualistic human sacrifice. The accepted belief among Neo-Aztecs is that the gods regularly demand the spilling of human blood in exchange for peace and prosperity. This naturally upsets most governments, as killing a human is generally illegal. The Neo-Aztecs and the government never actually came into conflict over this until a group held the first full human sacrifice of modern times in Depoe Bay, Oregon during the 2017 total solar eclipse. The sacrificial victim at the ceremony was 23-year-old Melissa Pargo, who gave her consent to the sacrifice in this video posted on YouTube.
Melissa: I, Melissa Pargo, give my formal consent to be sacrificed in the name of Lord Ometecuhtli. By my sacrifice, the gods will bring peace to our civilization and fruit to our labors. I am glad, elated, overjoyed! to give my life in service to the will of the gods.
Narration: A couple by the names Cynthia and Dennis Pistonberry was hiking in the woods of Depoe Bay during the solar eclipse. As they were setting down a blanket for a picnic, they heard a series of strange chants coming from a nearby clearing. They got up to investigate and saw fourteen Neo-Aztecs wearing long blue and red robes. As they watched, the saw the group sacrifice the young Melissa Pargo in the name of Ometecuhtli. They ran and hid under their picnic blanket as Dennis took out his Nokia to call 911. The police arrived soon and arrested the fourteen for the murder of Melissa Pargo. They were found guilty by an Oregon state court and appealed the conviction on the basis of the right to religious expression, arguing that their actions did not endanger public safety because the sacrifice was consented to. Here is what the head priest, Eztli, had to say.
Eztli: I have a right to practice my religion in this country. I understand that public safety has to override that, but our actions did not endanger public safety. The ascendant Melissa Pargo chose to do this. We would never take some random stranger off the street and sacrifice them! She chose this, and our right to religious expression applies.
Narration: Upon their first appeal, Eztli and his group’s conviction was upheld. They appealed again, eventually reaching the Supreme Court, which agreed to hear the case.