Posted on 02/21/2006 7:42:06 AM PST by AntiGuv
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Tuesday that a small congregation in New Mexico may use hallucinogenic tea as part of a four-hour ritual intended to connect with God.
Justices, in their first religious freedom decision under Chief Justice John Roberts, moved decisively to keep the government out of a church's religious practice. Federal drug agents should have been barred from confiscating the hoasca tea of the Brazil-based church, Roberts wrote in the decision.
The tea, which contains an illegal drug known as DMT, is considered sacred to members of O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao do Vegetal, which has a blend of Christian beliefs and South American traditions. Members believe they can understand God only by drinking the tea, which is consumed twice a month at four-hour ceremonies.
New Justice Samuel Alito did not take part in the case, which was argued last fall before Justice Sandra Day O'Connor before her retirement. Alito was on the bench for the first time on Tuesday.
For the record, polygamy is banned by the Utah Constitution, not by the Federal government. Way back in the day when people still understood what enumerated powers meant (when incidentally Federal prohibition laws didn't exist) it was acknowledged that the Federal government did not have the power to prohibit polygamy in a State. So, in order for Utah to become a State, they were required to enshrine polygamy bans in their Constitution, since the Federal territorial ban would be invalid upon Statehood.
Don't think so.
Not unless the People gave the legislature the authority to tell them what they could possess or ingest.
Oh, that's right. The People, not possessing that restrictive power ourselves, are incapable of giving something we don't possess to anyone.
Darn! It's that pesky Freedom thing again. :-)
I haven't stepped foot there in years, but I'm quite confident it's still wine at my Orthodox church's communion.
Another name for hosaca is Ayahuasca.
You need plants that are (currently) imported from South America.
Will SCOTUS allow this church to grow their own DMT-containing plants, or will they need to be imported still?
BTW if you have phalaris aquatica grass on your land, you are growing a plant that contains DMT. Likewise Illinois Bundleflower and several others- you can now start your own church!
Interesting.
I suspect the switch to grape juice in various faiths may have something to do with sensitivities toward any alcoholics in the congregation who would be unable to participate (or may want to participate a little too often...)
Lutherans get wine, Baptists get grape juice. If you want to get a blast in church, come over to the Dark Side.
"Well, it is illegal to give alcohol to minors, but in many churches kids get wine at communion."
Actually, communion is specifically exempted, at least under Texas law.
(In Texas, a parent/legal guardian/spouse can also provide alcohol to a child and/or under-21 spouse, as long as the parent/legal guardian spouse remains within eyesight.)
Did you ever notice that guise and guile are kissing cousins?
Does this set a precident for claiming the right to illegal drug use as part of a religious ritual?
I don't believe that's true, churches use grape juice
BTW: Turkeys DO fly. I hit a wild turkey one day; took out my windshield.
This gives a whole new meaning to the church "pot luck" dinners.
"So if my "church" decided to make pot "sacred" and smoke it at every "church gathering" that's OKAY??? Ridiculous."
No, it has to be a "legitimate and historical religious practice." This is not new; as above, American Indians have been using Peyote for years under this.
I know that the Orthodox Church requires that Communion follow a very explicit and specific ritual that must use wine, not any alternative. It's been that way for nearly a couple millennia now. Heck, that's why they're called Orthodox after all. ;)
Good point all related to big brother, deception
Your tagline: That is my favorite episode of WKRP. I wish I could find a copy of that one, and the one where Venus explains the atom to the gang member.
For fear that a Barney Gumble might go off the wagon with a sip of wine ours has wine or grape juice. Hmmm now that I think of it those percautions may be insufficient since Barney flipped out after drinking non-alcoholic Champaign.
Did you Duck?
Give me that old time religion
Tis the old time religion,
Tis the old time religion,
And it's good enough for me.
It was good for our mothers.
It was good for our mothers.
It was good for our mothers.
And it's good enough for me.
Give me that old time religion
Tis the old time religion,
Tis the old time religion,
And it's good enough for me.
Makes me love everybody.
Makes me love everybody.
Makes me love everybody.
And it's good enough for me.
Give me that old time religion
Tis the old time religion,
Tis the old time religion,
And it's good enough for me.
It has saved our fathers.
It has saved our fathers.
It has saved our fathers.
And it's good enough for me.
Give me that old time religion
Tis the old time religion,
Tis the old time religion,
And it's good enough for me.
It will do when I am dying.
It will do when I am dying.
It will do when I am dying.
And it's good enough for me.
Give me that old time religion
Tis the old time religion,
Tis the old time religion,
And it's good enough for me.
It will take us all to heaven.
It will take us all to heaven.
It will take us all to heaven.
And it's good enough for me.
Give me that old time religion
Tis the old time religion,
Tis the old time religion,
And it's good enough for me.
LOL! I'll keep that in mind. :-)
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