Constitutional Law -- The Supreme Court Can't Have it Both Ways Under RFRA: The Tale of Two Compelling Interest Tests. Gonzales v. O Centro Espirita Beneficente Uniao Do Vegetal, 126 S. Ct. 1211 (2006)
Aaron D. Bieber
Wyoming Law Review 2007 DOI: 10.59643/1942-9916.1150 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary Peer reviewed |
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| Citations | 3 |
| Key points | The UDV is a Christian Spiritist sect that uses hoasca, a tea containing DMT, as a sacrament, believing it facilitates connection with God. The U.S. branch, established in 1993 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, has about 130 members and regards the two plants as sacred and irreplaceable. |
Abstract
0 Centro Epirita Beneficente Uniao do Vegetal (UDV) is a Christian Spiritist sect based in Brazil, with an American branch of approximately 130 individuals. Founded in Brazil in 1961, the UDV church blends aspects of Christian theology with traditional Brazilian indigenous religious beliefs.' In 1993, the UDV officially established a United States branch headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico. 2 Central and essential to the UDV's faith is receiving communion by ingesting hoasca (pronounced "wass-ca"), a sacramental tea made from two plants unique to the Amazon region. 3 One of the plants, psychotria viridis, contains dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a hallucinogen whose effects are enhanced by alkaloids from the other plant, banisteriopsis caapi. 4 Hoasca is made by brewing together these two indigenous Brazilian plants. 5 Members of the UDV believe that taking hoasca during communion helps them understand, perceive, and connect with God. 6 UDV regards the two plants as sacred and does not substitute other plants or materials as its sacrament. 7 The UDV considers the use of hoasca outside *Candidate for J.D., University of Wyoming, 2008. I'd like to thank my wife for constant love and support during this project. I would