Which case struck down city ordinances targeting Santeria and applied strict scrutiny to free exercise claims?

Which case struck down city ordinances targeting Santeria and applied strict scrutiny to free exercise claims?

• A. Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye v. Hialeah (1993)
• B. Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)
• C. Engel v. Vitale (1962)
• D. Abington School District v. Schempp (1963)

Answer: (A)

The main concept here is how the Free Exercise Clause is applied when a law targets religious practice. In Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye v. Hialeah, the Supreme Court struck down city ordinances that banned animal sacrifice, a central Santeria ritual, because the laws were crafted and applied to suppress that specific religion. They were not neutral toward religion and not generally applicable, so they triggered strict scrutiny. The city could not show a compelling interest that justified the tailored restrictions on Santeria practices, and the ordinances’ design and exemptions revealed the intent to burden a particular religion. As a result, the laws were unconstitutional. For comparison, the other cases involve Establishment Clause concerns or school prayer rather than targeting a religious practice under Free Exercise.

The main concept here is how the Free Exercise Clause is applied when a law targets religious practice. In Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye v. Hialeah, the Supreme Court struck down city ordinances that banned animal sacrifice, a central Santeria ritual, because the laws were crafted and applied to suppress that specific religion. They were not neutral toward religion and not generally applicable, so they triggered strict scrutiny. The city could not show a compelling interest that justified the tailored restrictions on Santeria practices, and the ordinances’ design and exemptions revealed the intent to burden a particular religion. As a result, the laws were unconstitutional. For comparison, the other cases involve Establishment Clause concerns or school prayer rather than targeting a religious practice under Free Exercise.