N.Y. village has beef with Hare Krishna's cows

[Guest guest]

"N.Y. village has beef with Hare Krishna's cows"

(AP, December 8, 2001)

 

 

ANGELICA, N.Y. - A Hare Krishna has been fined by village

officials for

harboring cows without a permit - despite his plea that the cows

are

integral to his religion.

 

"It's unthinkable for us," Stephen Voith told the Wellsville

Daily Reporter

in yesterday's edition. "It's like being told to remove your

mother and your

father from your home."

 

Voith lives on Main Street in the village, 80 miles south of

Buffalo.

Neighbors have complained of noise. Nearly 100 violations were

cited, and

Voith was given 60 days to pay the fine.

 

Justice Carol Trivisondoli said the $457 fine would be waived if

the cows

were removed.

 

Voith vowed to appeal. He said he was denied a permit because he

failed to

get the necessary signatures from his neighbors, some of whom

have their own

livestock.

 

New York Civil Liberties Union officials are concerned about a

possible

violation of religious freedom, said John Kurrst of the western

regional

office.

 

"There's an indication of religious-persecution overtones,"

Kurrst said. "In

light of what's happened since Sept. 11, there should be more

awareness and

sensitivity to people who are different and share a community."

 

Hare Krishnas believe in protecting cows. The Voiths own one

adult, two

yearlings and a calf.