News (Media Awareness Project) - US: Court Okays Church's Tea |
Title: | US: Court Okays Church's Tea |
Published On: | 2006-02-22 |
Source: | Montreal Gazette (CN QU) |
Fetched On: | 2008-01-14 15:55:10 |
COURT OKAYS CHURCH'S TEA
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously yesterday that a small
congregation in New Mexico can 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.
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously yesterday that a small
congregation in New Mexico can 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.
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