The União do Vegetal (UDV) is a Christian Spiritist religion that originated in Brazil and is now practiced by almost 24,000 people in 11 countries. The UDV has received numerous civic awards for its community and environmental service and is recognized as a church under the laws of the United States.. União do Vegetal literally means “the union of the plants.”

The UDV has núcleos – or active, practicing communities – in over 100 cities and villages throughout Brazil with a membership of over 21,000. Approximately 600 UDV members live in the United States and there are active núcleos in Colorado, New Mexico, California, Connecticut, Florida, Texas, and Washington.

Likewise, the UDV is firmly developing, steadfastly participating in charitable works and contributing, in a relevant manner, to the development of the human being. Mestre Gabriel’s life practice and words of justice and kindness are a permanent source of strength and inspiration for all those who seek to follow his steps on a path of Light ...

The local UDV community, Núcleo Santa Fe, for more than 5 years had been struggling to overcome a well funded campaign in opposition to the church’s construction, based upon evident prejudice, misunderstanding and fear by some neighborhood residents. Ultimately the UDV had to go back to court to secure the rights that the county officials ...

Supreme Court Case A Brief History of the Events Leading to Litigation. On May 21, 1999, U.S. Customs agents entered the UDV national headquarters in Santa Fe, New Mexico, seizing church records, computers and all of the sacramental hoasca tea stored there. On November 22, 2000, after 18 months of unsuccessful efforts to negotiate a settlement with the government aimed at …

The UDV has núcleos – or active, practicing communities — in over 100 cities and villages throughout Brazil with a membership of over 21,000. Approximately 600 UDV members live in the United States and there are active núcleos in Colorado, New Mexico, California, Connecticut, Texas, Florida, and Washington. ...

Charitable outreach is central to the vision of Mestre Gabriel and to the work of the UDV. Last year alone, the UDV’s charitable works positively impacted nearly 100,000 people. Each local center of the UDV conducts charitable outreach activities that positively impact the greater communities in which they are located. Charitable projects ...

Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. Over a period of several years, beginning in 1995, the Judiciary Committee of both the United States Senate and House of Representatives held public hearings related to the protection of religious liberty.