Court strikes down Religious Freedom Act

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Although churches must obey the laws of God, they must also obey the laws of Congress, according to the Supreme Court. Justices on a 6-3 vote struck down the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration that limits the authority of the federal government over religious practices. That law was pushed through Congress in response to a controversial 1990 Court decision that laws can be valid even if they infringe on some people's religious beliefs. Opponents of the law charged that it allowed groups to hide illicit activity under the cover of religious belief. Supporters countered that some protection was necessary to prevent the rights of religious minorities from being trampled. Today, the court ruled that its earlier precedent could not be overturned by Congress.