In a predominantly Catholic country, I don't know that the govt or even practitioners would try to proclaim it as "official", whatever that really means. Interesting though, isn't it? I know this is practiced widely across a lot of countries, but maybe a lot of people see it falling under Catholicism (since there are saints they use) in a way. I must check this out more
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The La Regla Lukumi Elders in Cuba were not allowed to visit with the Pope when he was in Cuba, even though they tried. I was told that if the Pope had met the Elders then the Catholic Church would be acknowledging La Regla Lukumi as a religion. Though the Pope did meet other Religious leaders who we not Catholic.
Many countries/people have a problem with the Lukumi religion because of the animal sacrifices. When am animal is sacrificed it is prayed over, thanked for giving its life and the person who is performing the sacrifice asks for the animal’s forgiveness. The animal is treated with the upmost respect for it is an implement for communication to the Orishas.
There is so much more respect & gratitude given these animals then given the chicken sold at Shop-Rite.
Pease remember that La Regla Lukumi is a monotheistic religion. There is but one God and that is Olodumare. The Orisha are aspects of nature, but that is a very simplistic explanation for Orishas for they influence every aspect of our lives.
When the slave-owners banned the worship of the religion, the Yoruba people hid the worship in the guise of Saints. There is a synchronism between some Saints and some Orishas. You could have a shrine to St. Barbara, Patroness of thunder and lightning but not to Chango, the Orisha of/for thunder and lightning.
Aganyu, orisha of the violence of the earth, of volcanos and earthquakes. He is known for once having worked as a ferryman at a river. As such, he has become the patron Orisha of travelers. He is most commonly associated with St. Christopher, who is the patron saint of travelers in Catholicism because of a story in which he carried a small child across a river. He is also sometimes associated with the Archangel Michael and St. Joseph.
Babalu-Aye is the orisha of illness and is called upon by beggars, the sick and the disabled. He is equated with Lazarus who is associated with Leprosy and skin diseases.
Elegua/Ellegua, also known as Eshu, is the most powerful of the orishas after Obatala. He is a messenger, a trickster, a warrior and an opener of doorways, allowing for new experiences. Elegua is particularly fond of children and often disguises himself as one. This has led to him being associated with Anthony of Padua (commonly depicted carrying a young Jesus), the Holy Child of Atocha (Jesus in the disguise of a child who fed starving Christians in Spain), and Benito, the Holy Infant of Prague.
****PLEASE NOTE...By no way am I an expert…I am just an aleyo without an Ile (House) at the moment. But I am fascinated with the religion’s history…..
This is a great website for info….
http://altreligion.about.com/od/mythologicalfigures/a/Aganyu-Babalu-Aye-Chango-Eleggua.htm
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