Legal Protections of Our Faith & Practice
Thousand Suns Church of Mother Earth stands under the full protection of U.S. and State law. Below are the statutes that uphold our right to exist, practice, and serve through Earth-based ceremony and Indigenous spiritual expression.
1. Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)
42 U.S. Code Chapter 21B, §2000BB
- Protects against laws—even neutral ones—that burden religious practice.
- Government must show a compelling interest and use the least restrictive means.
- Provides a direct legal defense for faith-based actions and ceremonies.
2. Missouri Religious Freedom Restoration Act
Missouri Revised Statutes §1.302
- Protects religious conduct motivated by belief—even if not central to a doctrine.
- Government must prove a compelling interest in restrictions and act with minimal burden.
3. American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) + 1994 Amendments
Public Law 103-344 (AIRFA Amendments of 1994)
- Explicitly protects ceremonial use of peyote by Native practitioners.
- Bars federal and state penalties for Indigenous religious use, transport, or possession.
- Agencies must consult with tribal leaders before creating regulatory limitations.
4. Definitions & Scope of Protection
- “Religious exercise” includes any act of faith, not just core doctrine.
- Land use laws cannot restrict religious buildings or ceremonies.
- Our ministers, sacraments, teachings, and ceremonial grounds are all protected.
5. Our Legal Standing
- Recognized as a 508(c)(1)(A) Faith-Based Organization.
- Protected by RFRA, Missouri law, and AIRFA across all dimensions of practice.
- Empowered to claim protection or defense in any judicial proceeding.
“We stand in full faith, full freedom, and full protection—rooted in the sacred law of Earth and Spirit, and shielded by the spiritual and constitutional laws of this land.”