Opinion ID: 1779062
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: First Amendment Religious Freedom.

Text: ś 25. No portion of our federal constitution is more familiar than the First Amendment, a portion of which guarantees our citizens religious freedom. [8] Although their deceptively simple words â Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; . . . [9] â were obviously important to our Founders, it is doubtful they expected the phrase to hatch continual litigation and debate. [10] ś 26. The Freedom of Religion portion of the First Amendment includes an Establishment Clause and a Free Exercise Clause, each of which form the basis of a claim of protection by the Diocese. Additionally, the Diocese says the Doctrine of Church Autonomy provides a third basis for its jurisdictional position.
ś 27. The Establishment Clause prohibits government action which tends to endorse, favor or in some manner promote religion. Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, 536 U.S. 639, 122 S.Ct. 2460, 153 L.Ed.2d 604 (2002). Writing for the Court in Zelman, Chief Justice Rehnquist, explained the Establishment Clause as follows: The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, applied to the States through the Fourteenth Amendment, prevents a State from enacting laws that have the purpose or effect of advancing or inhibiting religion. Agostini v. Felton, 521 U.S. 203, 222-223, 117 S.Ct. 1997, 138 L.Ed.2d 391 (1997) ([W]e continue to ask whether the government acted with the purpose of advancing or inhibiting religion [and] whether the aid has the `effect' of advancing or inhibiting religion. (citations omitted)). 536 U.S. at 648-49, 122 S.Ct. at 2465.