It is un-American to deny freedom of practice to some religions and bestow it on others. The Mooney's proved sacramental use of peyote to be legal. They did so through the court system at great emotional and financial cost to themselves and their family over YEARS. Their case is a landmark case.

Not returning the Peyote to the Mooney's would be shameful. Not returning the peyote would be a stain on the U.S. Constitution and on our court system as a whole.

GIVE THE PEYOTE BACK. Either we are what we claim to be, a land of justice and respect for plurality in religious practices, or we are a joke. Don't let the United States of America be a JOKE.

Sincerely,
Lisa Robesch
San Francisco, California

James wrote:
It is un-American to deny freedom of practice to some religions and bestow it on others. The Mooney's proved sacramental use of peyote to be legal. They did so through the court system at great emotional and financial cost to themselves and their family over YEARS. Their case is a landmark case. Not returning the Peyote to the Mooney's would be shameful. Not returning the peyote would be a stain on the U.S. Constitution and on our court system as a whole. GIVE THE PEYOTE BACK. Either we are what we claim to be, a land of justice and respect for plurality in religious practices, or we are a joke. Don't let the United States of America be a JOKE.

Sincerely,
Lisa Robesch

The JOKE, here Lisa, is the fact that a non-indian wants to be an Indian to get high...That is the joke.

Woody, please educate yourself, this issue is not about me or about people wanting to get high.

http://www.myfoxutah.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7079680&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.2.1

There's no way this is fair

I feel that this is such an injustice to the Native Americans. They have had so much taken from them. Yet they move forward. Don't let them also loose this substance that has been part of their ceremonies for decades. Give this back! Stand up and show you respect their ways and religion. After all this great country was built on the fact of religious freedom.

Jody Hastey,

Tooele

The Feds should butt out

Every time I read an article about the federal government trying to stop the use of Peyote in the Native American Church I am filled with anger and disappointment.

The federal government will never open their minds and hearts to the people that it is supposed to serve.

As far as the federal government is concerned I see a time in the not so distant future where men in uniforms with guns and tanks will be pushing us all into a terrifying future where our basic freedoms have been slowly bled away and one by one good people like James and Lynda Mooney will all be locked up or shut down and the real bad guys will still be making the laws to suit their own agendas at our expense.

It will be a beautiful day when everyone on earth joins together and realizes that we are all part of a much larger reality and we must advance ourselves through prayer, meditation and genuine love before it's too late.

Craig Keyes,
Salt Lake City

Dear friends and family,

Some of you know James Mooney...some don't. He is a medicine man here in Utah who has been at the forefront of trying to obtain religious freedom and the right to use plant medicines as sacrament for all US citizens, regardless of race or ethnic heritage. He WON his Utah State Supreme Court case, then was immediately indicted by the federal government.

The feds DROPPED their case against him when it became apparent that their case was not constitutionally valid...yet the victories are hollow as long as the sacrament is not returned to James for use in ceremony.

There have been at least 3 deadlines for returning sacrament that have come and gone as the prosecuting attorney's office has invented excuses to not comply with the law (the most recent excuse was that use of peyote is a "health risk" )

James has tirelessly worked to push the government to honor their commitments and the outcomes of the court battles, and FINALLY, others have taken up the banner. Here is an opportunity for you to participate in a newspaper poll demanding return of the sacred peyote to the Oklevueha Earth Walks Native American Church, which James directs.

I encourage you to add your name to the petition in support of James's good work and to pass on this e-mail message to all those you know who feel similarly compelled to support this good brother in his service.

Much love,
Bonnie Glass-Coffin PhD Logan, Utah