| 3[508
U.S. 520, 542]
II-A-3
In sum, the neutrality inquiry leads to one conclusion:
the ordinances had as their object the suppression of religion. The pattern
we have recited discloses animosity to Santeria adherents and their religious
practices; the ordinances, by their own terms, target this religious exercise;
the texts of the ordinances were gerrymandered with care to proscribe religious
killings of animals but to exclude almost all secular killings; and the
ordinances suppress much more religious conduct than is necessary in order
to achieve the legitimate ends asserted in their defense. These ordinances
are not neutral, and the court below committed clear error in failing to
reach this conclusion. 4 |
|