Mixing the World's Oldest Professions

[ShibbOleth]

Apparently this guy in Arizona is trying to circumvent prostitution laws by citing his right to freedom of religious expression:

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

and

“This offer of comfort by this means is based on several Biblical passages,” wrote attorney Brad Roach, who is representing LaVoie while seeking election as Pima County attorney.
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.

Alex Mahon, an Arizona assistant attorney general, responded that LaVoie never argued at trial that laying on of hands was part of church ceremonies. In fact, the evidence showed his “angels” were lay people committing acts of prostitution with the spa’s male customers, Mahon wrote.

“LaVoie continues to mock the state and the court by insisting that his flimsy claim of religious freedom entitles him to engage in criminal acts at will,” Mahon told the court.

Whatever they offered, LaVoie’s “angels” operated out of an office building at 1740 E. Lester St., northwest of Campbell and Speedway. The Angel’s Heaven Web site displayed portraits of young women over trademarked names. “Oriental Angel” described as 5-foot-2 with dark brown hair and hazel eyes, invited visitors to discover “Far East delight.” Brown-eyed “Passion Angel” peered out over this message: “Come to Angel’s Heaven now and be touched by an angel willing to take you to heaven and back.”

[Ethilrist]

I’d much rather see this religion than a great many others I’ve read about, and I would rather they be allowed to practice their beliefs free from taxation just as so many other religions spawned in the mid- to late-20th have.

However, just as monastic orders which create brandy or other spirits for sale, there should still be laws governing the practices.