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.
Thanks, good to know. Then this issue could not come up in a dispute and is in keeping with my point of view, that the people themselves decide what laws they will live under, organizing restraints here and there as they see fit. Some power we give to the Federal Government, some to the states, and some we reserve to ourselves.
"whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise"
-Declaration of Independence
Reminds me of the Coptic church in Florida that wanted to smoke pot in church.
I am so happy to finally be able to celebrate the Church of Sudafed! 15 boxes please, Meth is our GOD!
Oh, yeah, and did I tell you about the sacrament of the Tuesday night Poker Game, legality shmegality!
Now all Utah has to do is enforce their Constitution
Polygamy still exists and sometimes the "authorites" are part of it or look the other way
Then come help me :)
That's about what I got: The Charitable Unified Church of the Vegetable.
And how would you suggest they enforce it? Polygamists don't register their second (or third or fourth, etc) marriages. They simply cohabit.
"Hey dude quit beugaurding, that ain't religious"
Oh I'll be back!
And I decide to live in Montana, I will fight to keep the libs from turning Montana into another CA, that they first destroyed and are now fleeing from into states like Montana, Wyoming and Idaho
How do the authorites enforce any law?
Drug uses don't register their bongs either
A lot of what goes on gets ignored
Would the fundamentalist members who wish to preserve the old customs (think ZigZag) be known as Holy Rollers?
We do get some of them from Cali here from time to time. But then the Montana weather acts up and you see a mass exodus out of the state the following spring.
Not too many of the pampered princesses from Cali and the Northeast US stay here for very long. Side benefit they drag their metrosexual hubbies/boyfriends with them.
LOL
Oh please. You can't really be that stupid. Cohabitation isn't illegal and the use of Schedule I illicit drugs cannot be passed off as a legal activity.
Good news then
they drag their metrosexual hubbies/boyfriends with them.
Even better news! ;>)
There is a policy on FR against personal insults
Do not post to me again unless you can control youself
Hey, that guy over there bought too much decongestent. Let's kick in his door and confiscate his car and valuables. Might have been bought with drug money, doncha know.
LOL. The decision was based on statute, not the constitution. Still, good comment.
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