Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

FRQ Prompt

The Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye practiced the Santeria religion, which involves ritual animal sacrifice. When the church announced plans to open a worship center in Hialeah, Florida, the city council passed several ordinances banning the "unnecessary" killing of animals for ritual purposes. The ordinances allowed for exceptions such as kosher slaughter and hunting. The Church sued, claiming the laws targeted their religious practice. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of the Church, holding that because the laws specifically targeted religious activity while allowing secular killing, they were not "neutral" and violated the First Amendment.