The “Laying On of Hands” Defense

I’ve heard of variations of the “laying on of hands” before (particularly among the teachers and priests), but never this:

State attorneys say John LaVoie should be forever barred from the massage business because he ran a house of prostitution camouflaged as a church.

But in his latest court argument, the Tucson man says he hired women at Angel’s Heaven Relaxation Spa . . . not to sell sex but to comfort the afflicted through the religious act of “laying on of hands” . . .

LaVoie, who testified he is the pastor of the Church of Liberty, “has every right under the First Amendment to freely exercise his religion, which religion includes offering comfort through the laying on of hands,” Roach wrote in an objection to the proposed order of forfeiture.

And be sure to do a little background check on who you invite for prayers:

While that case was pending, the Pima County Board of Supervisors met on Feb. 21, 2006. According to published minutes, “the invocation was delivered by Pastor John LaVoie of the Church of Liberty.”

County staff had selected him at random from the phone book and invited him to open the meeting.

[via Religion Clause]

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