I have a legal notion upon which I should like a lawyer to comment. Question: why would a religious practice of human sacrifice not be protected by the first amendment? My answer: the amendment forbids congress from banning a religious practice as a religious practice ( e.g. “It is forbidden to worship God while facing Mecca” ) ; but if a religious ritual violates an essentially secular law ( e.g., against murder) then the religious connotations of the act a re no defense. Am I right?

