And today's disgusting religious practice is...

...something called metzitzah b'peh.

For all those not familiar with this specific custom, it is practiced in the Hassidic community and involves the following: after a bris - the ceremony in which the foreskin of a newborn is sliced off, since god hates foreskins, I guess - the person who does the cutting, called a mohel, stops the bleeding by sucking on the wound. Yes, with his mouth.

I first became aware of this particular practice because of a news story which reported that one such mohel unfortunately had herpes, and infected several newborns. One subsequently died.

Now, under normal, that is non-religious, circumstances, this kind of stuff would be prosecuted as aggravated felony assault and sexual misconduct with a minor - no adult is supposed to have his or her mouth anywhere near an infant's wingle-dingle, let alone be sucking blood off it after using a sharp knife in the immediate vicinity. It's notable, just in case someone goes all Goebbels about Judaism, that most Jews regard this specific ritual with profound distaste and do not practice it.

Accordingly, the New York City Health Department is on the warpath and wants metzitzah b'peh outlawed. No way, said the Central Rabbinical Council:

"We have serious concerns about the Health Department's insistence on advising mothers of newborn boys concerning a religious practice. We believe that continuing the religious practice of metzitzah b'peh is highly safe. We will work with expectant mothers and fathers in our community to urge them to consult with their rabbis as they approach the blessed event of celebrating a bris for a newborn boy."

The mayor has of course caved, since this was decided before the election, and nobody wants to piss off the Hassidic voter bloc, let alone let godless, secular health concerns and a death or two get in the way of a religious practice.

Amazing what you can get away with in America if you just claim the religion excuse.