Because from the beginning the Catholic Church in Latin America prohibited African religions, Santeria had to be practiced in secrecy for a long time. Eventually the Catholic Church came to tolerate this syncretism among the slaves.
Alguses keelustas katoliku kirik Ladina - Ameerikas Aafrika usundite järgimise ja santeriaga tegeldi pikka aega salaja, kuid lõpuks tuli katoliku kirikul taolise sünkretismiga orjade seas leppida.