Worshippers Ill after Gulping Snail Slime

(AP)  Devotees of a Miami man claiming to practice a traditional African religion say they had to ingest the mucus of a Giant African Snail that sickened them.

Federal authorities in January raided Charles L. Stewart's home after receiving complaints. Stewart has not been criminally charged, but prosecutors and state and federal wildlife agencies are investigating. The Giant African Snail is prohibited in the U.S. without special approval.

Experts say it devastates new ecosystems. The snail grows up to 10 inches long, can reproduce on its own and even can even eat plaster.

Stewart says he means no harm, and his religion uses the snails in healing ceremonies.

Followers said they got violently ill, losing weight and developing strange lumps in their stomachs.

[Brokennews]

I usually try to be respectful of people's religion & not condemn the rights & rituals of the practice, but this one one deserves some ridicule. At least with the snake handlers, a snake has some symbolism to it. What does snail slime symbolize?

[MoeSkito]

"What does snail slime symbolize? "
That Darwin was wrong and that the idiots drinking the snail slime are contaminating the human gene pool..........I'm going to refrain from any further judgment on these morons by not even suggesting that they probably voted for BHObama too........

[presjfk]

As a species we have barely grown at all.

[ianlou]

Solomon in the book of Proverbs: "He that troubleth his own digestive system shall inherit the wind."

[rwsmith29456]

I'm going to convert to that religion.

[TVO1CITW]

Sounds like they were trying to cure constipation.

[ajvw]

these ain't your momma's baptists

[LDeanP]

Makes more sense than telling thousands of Africans in danger of contracting AIDS not to use condoms. Religion.....

[NowBeWithThat]

Nowhere in the Bible does it say folks oughta eat snail snot.

[erasmus111]

There are just so many stupid people out there. Kinda depressing to think that there are that many.

[displeased]

And a problem is stupid people have many kids and then raise them to be stupid too.

[erasmus111]

Hahahaha! Yes they do!

[Blatensphere]

Obama's fault!!!!