corporation presiding bishop amos argued march decided june together amos et also appeal appellee mayson employed nonprofit facility open public run religious entities associated church jesus christ saints church discharged failed qualify certificate member church eligible attend temples individuals purporting represent class brought action federal district alleging religious discrimination violation title vii civil rights act defendants moved dismiss ground shielded liability act exempts religious organizations title vii prohibition religious discrimination employment plaintiffs contended construed allow religious employers discriminate religious grounds hiring nonreligious jobs violated establishment clause first amendment finding mayson case involved nonreligious activities held test set lemon kurtzman unconstitutional applied secular activity primary effect advancing religion held applying exemption religious organizations secular activities violate establishment clause ample room clause benevolent neutrality permit religious exercise exist without sponsorship without interference section exemption satisfies first requirement lemon test challenged law serve secular legislative purpose requirement aimed preventing relevant governmental abandoning neutrality acting intent promoting particular point view religious matters permissible legislative purpose alleviate significant governmental interference ability religious organizations define carry religious missions section also satisfies lemon second requirement challenged law principal primary effect neither advances inhibits religion law unconstitutional simply allows churches advance religion purpose law forbidden effects government must advanced religion activities influence district reliance facts singles religious entities benefit unsupported long historical tradition unpersuasive moreover merit contention offends equal protection principles giving less protection religious employers employees secular employers employees thus must strictly scrutinized statute discriminate among religions instead neutral face motivated permissible purpose limiting governmental interference exercise religion proper inquiry whether congress chosen rational classification legitimate end applied nonprofit activities religious employers rationally related legitimate purpose alleviating significant governmental interference ability religious organizations define carry religious missions third part lemon test also satisfied since impermissibly entangle church state rather effects complete separation two pp reversed remanded white delivered opinion rehnquist powell stevens scalia joined brennan filed opinion concurring judgment marshall joined post blackmun post post filed opinions concurring judgment rex lee argued cause appellants briefs wilford kirton dan bushnell karlynn hinman benjamin heineman carter phillips ronald flagg assistant attorney general reynolds argued cause briefs solicitor general fried deputy solicitor general ayer deputy assistant attorney general carvin andrew pincus david watkiss argued cause appellees cases brief elizabeth dunning john powell joan bertin john fn briefs amici curiae urging reversal filed american association presidents independent colleges universities et al edward mcglynn gaffney american jewish congress marc stern amy adelson baptist joint committee public affairs donald brewer oliver thomas catholic league religious civil rights steven frederick mcdowell christian legal society et al michael mcconnell michael woodruff samuel ericsson kimberlee colby philip draheim forest montgomery general conference adventists warren johns walter carson melvin sabey national jewish commission law public affairs nathan lewin dennis rapps catholic conference john liekweg mark chopko council religious freedom lee boothby james parker robert nixon rolland truman briefs amici curiae urging affirmance filed american federation labor congress industrial organizations et al michael gottesman robert weinberg david silberman laurence gold league harold weinberger justin finger jeffrey sinensky jill kahn ruti tietel meyer eisenberg employment law center legal aid society san francisco joan graff robert barnes robert borton women legal defense fund et al donna lenhoff jordan lorence filed brief concerned women america amicus curiae justice white delivered opinion section civil rights act stat amended exempts religious organizations title vii prohibition discrimination employment basis religion question presented whether applying exemption secular nonprofit activities religious organizations violates establishment clause first amendment district held cases direct appeal pursuant reverse deseret gymnasium gymnasium salt lake city utah nonprofit facility open public run corporation presiding bishop church jesus christ saints cpb corporation president church jesus christ saints cop cpb cop religious entities associated church jesus christ saints church unincorporated religious association sometimes called mormon lds church appellee mayson worked gymnasium years assistant building engineer building engineer discharged failed qualify temple recommend certificate member church eligible attend temples mayson others purporting represent class plaintiffs brought action cpb cop alleging among things discrimination basis religion violation civil rights act defendants moved dismiss claim ground shields liability plaintiffs contended construed allow religious employers discriminate religious grounds hiring nonreligious jobs violates establishment clause district first considered whether facts cases require decision plaintiffs constitutional argument starting premise religious activities religious employers permissibly exempted developed test determine whether activity religious applying test mayson situation found first gymnasium intimately connected church financially matters management second clear connection primary function gymnasium performs religious beliefs tenets mormon church church administration third none mayson duties gymnasium even tangentially related conceivable religious belief ritual mormon church church administration supp utah concluded mayson case involves nonreligious activity next considered plaintiffs constitutional challenge applying test set lemon kurtzman first held permissible secular purpose assuring government remains neutral meddle religious affairs interfering decisionmaking process religions supp concluded however fails second part lemon test provision primary effect advancing religion among considerations mentioned singles religious entities benefit rather benefiting broad grouping religious organizations part supported long historical tradition burdens free exercise rights employees religious institutions work nonreligious jobs finding impermissibly sponsors religious organizations granting exclusive authorization engage conduct directly immediately advance religious tenets practices declared statute unconstitutional applied secular activity entered summary judgment favor mayson pursuant federal rule civil procedure ordered reinstated backpay subsequently vacated judgment intervene defend constitutionality briefing argument affirmed prior determination reentered final judgment mayson ii long recognized government may sometimes must accommodate religious practices may without violating establishment clause hobbie unemployment appeals omitted well established limits permissible state accommodation religion means noninterference mandated free exercise clause walz tax ample room establishment clause benevolent neutrality permit religious exercise exist without sponsorship without interference point accommodation may devolve unlawful fostering religion hobbie supra cases view lemon requires first law issue serve secular legislative purpose mean law purpose must unrelated religion amount requirement government show callous indifference religious groups zorach clauson establishment clause never interpreted rather lemon purpose requirement aims preventing relevant governmental decisionmaker case congress abandoning neutrality acting intent promoting particular point view religious matters lemon analysis permissible legislative purpose alleviate significant governmental interference ability religious organizations define carry religious missions appellees argue purpose provided adequate protection religious employers prior amendment exempted religious activities employers statutory ban religious discrimination may assume sake argument exemption adequate sense free exercise clause required nonetheless significant burden religious organization require pain substantial liability predict activities secular consider religious line hardly bright one organization might understandably concerned judge understand religious tenets sense mission fear potential liability might affect way organization carried understood religious mission detailed examination legislative history amendment district concluded congress purpose minimize governmental interfer ence process religions agree district purpose violate establishment clause second requirement lemon law question principal primary effect neither advances inhibits religion undoubtedly religious organizations better able advance purposes prior amendment religious groups better able advance purposes account many laws passed constitutional muster example property tax exemption issue walz tax supra loans schoolbooks school children including parochial school students upheld board education allen law unconstitutional simply allows churches advance religion purpose law forbidden effects lemon must fair say government advanced religion activities influence observed walz men wrote religion clauses first amendment establishment religion connoted sponsorship financial support active involvement sovereign religious activity accord lemon district appeared fear sustaining exemption permit churches financial resources impermissibly extend influence propagate faith entering commercial world cases us however involve nonprofit activity instituted years ago hope assemble come benefit health physical blessings may feel house dedicated lord dedicatory prayer gymnasium quoted cases therefore implicate apparent concerns district moreover find persuasive evidence record us church ability propagate religious doctrine gymnasium greater prior passage civil rights act circumstances see advancement religion achieved gymnasium fairly attributed government opposed church find unpersuasive district reliance fact singles religious entities benefit although given weight consideration past decisions see supra never indicated statutes give special consideration religious groups per se invalid run contrary teaching cases ample room accommodation religion establishment clause see supra government acts proper purpose lifting regulation burdens exercise religion see reason require exemption come packaged benefits secular entities also unpersuaded district reliance argument unsupported long historical tradition simply need consider scope exemption civil rights act passed fact congress concluded eight years original exemption unnecessarily narrow decision entitled deference suspicion appellees argue offends equal protection principles giving less protection employees religious employers employees secular employers appellees rely larson valente proposition law drawing distinctions religious grounds must strictly scrutinized larson indicates laws discriminating among religions subject strict scrutiny laws affording uniform benefit religions analyzed lemon cases statute neutral face motivated permissible purpose limiting governmental interference exercise religion see justification applying strict scrutiny statute passes lemon test proper inquiry whether congress chosen rational classification legitimate end already indicated congress acted legitimate purpose expanding exemption cover activities religious employers supra dispose appellees equal protection argument suffices hold applied nonprofit activities religious employers rationally related legitimate purpose alleviating significant governmental interference ability religious organizations define carry religious missions seriously contended impermissibly entangles church state statute effectuates complete separation two avoids kind intrusive inquiry religious belief district engaged case statute easily passes muster third part lemon test judgment district reversed cases remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered footnotes subchapter title vii civil rights act et seq shall apply religious corporation association educational institution society respect employment individuals particular religion perform work connected carrying corporation association educational institution society activities title permits party appeal interlocutory final judgment decree order holding act congress unconstitutional civil action party cpb cop corporations sole organized utah law perform various activities behalf church corporations nonprofit religious entities internal revenue code appellees contest cpb cop religious organizations purposes temple recommends issued individuals observe church standards matters regular church attendance tithing abstinence coffee tea alcohol tobacco district certify class plaintiffs whose claims issue appeal initially included former employees beehive clothing mills manufactures garments religious significance church members complaint amended add plaintiff former employee desert industries division church welfare services department district rulings plaintiffs claims described infra district described test follows first must look tie religious organization activity issue regard areas financial affairs operations management second whether close substantial tie two next must examine nexus primary function activity question religious rituals tenets religious organization matters church administration substantial connection activity question religious organization religious tenets matters church administration tie first part test close need proceed may declare activity religious however tie religious entity activity question either close remote first prong test nexus primary function activity question religious tenets rituals religious organization matters church administration tenuous must engage third inquiry must consider relationship nature job employee performing religious rituals tenets religious organization matters church administration substantial relationship employee job church administration religious organization rituals tenets must find activity question religious relationship substantial activity religious supp utah found nothing running purpose gymnasium suggests intended spread teach religious beliefs doctrine practices sacred ritual mormon church intended integral part church administration emphasized contention made religious doctrines mormon church either require religious discrimination employment treat physical exercise religious ritual also considered rejected possibility construed exempt religious organization respect employment involving religious activities examined considerable detail legislative history amendment prior time exempted religious activities religious employers statutory proscription religious discrimination employment amendment extending exemption activities religious organizations sponsored senators allen ervin senator ervin explained purpose amendment take political hands caesar institutions god place cong rec rejected defendants arguments required need avoid excessive governmental entanglement religion free exercise clause mueller allen provision benefits broad spectrum groups important index secular effect committee public education religious liberty nyquist narrowness benefited class important factor evaluating whether effect law violates establishment clause cf walz tax relying part upholding property tax exemption religious groups long historical tradition exemptions declared determination regarding applies equal force similar state exemption relates facts case deferred ruling plaintiffs claim violates due process equal protection clauses constitution rejected plaintiffs claims wrongful discharge intentional infliction emotional distress subsequently concluded disputed issues material fact precluded summary judgment beehive employees see supra supp utah plaintiff added amendment complaint ralph whitaker claimed impermissible religious discrimination discharge position truckdriver desert industries industries based failure qualify temple recommend industries division church welfare services department runs workshop program handicapped retarded unemployed sort assemble items refurbish donated goods sale industries thrift stores relying church emphasis charity work held industries religious activity intimate connection industries defendants mormon church primary function industries religious tenets church finding establishment clause violation applying exemption industries granted summary judgment whitaker appeal present cases illustrative difficulties distinction deseret industries see supra gymnasium rather fine activities run nonprofit basis cpb cop argue district failed appreciate gymnasium well deseret industries expressive church religious values brief appellants pp undoubtedly mayson freedom choice religious matters impinged upon church cop cpb government put choice changing religious practices losing job different case estate thornton caldor caldor struck connecticut statute prohibiting employer requiring employee work day designated employee sabbath effect connecticut given force law employee designation sabbath day required accommodation employer regardless burden constituted employer employees see hobbie unemployment appeals present cases appellee mayson legally obligated take steps necessary qualify temple recommend discharge required statute find merit appellees contention impermissibly delegates governmental power religious employees conveys message governmental endorsement religious discrimination brief appellees appellees also argue violates equal protection principles giving religious employers greater leeway discriminate secular employers clear appellees standing represent interests secular employers event argument practically speaking merely restatement first point occasion pass argument cop cpb exemption entitled required free exercise clause appellees argue creates danger political divisiveness along political lines stated lynch donnelly held political divisiveness alone serve invalidate otherwise permissible conduct decline hold today case involve direct subsidy schools colleges religious institutions hence inquiry political divisiveness even called mueller allen write separately emphasize concurrence judgment rests fact cases involve challenge application categorical exemption activities nonprofit organization believe particular character nonprofit activity makes inappropriate determination whether nature religious secular cases present confrontation rights religious organizations individuals exemption title vii proscription religious discrimination necessarily effect burdening religious liberty prospective current employees exemption says person may put choice either conforming certain religious tenets losing job opportunity promotion cases employment potential coercion created provision serious tension commitment individual freedom conscience matters religious belief time religious organizations interest autonomy ordering internal affairs may free select leaders define doctrines resolve disputes run institutions religion includes important communal elements believers exercise religion religious organizations organizations must protected free exercise lause laycock towards general theory religion clauses case church labor relations right church autonomy colum rev authority engage process inevitably involves normally regard infringement free exercise rights since religious organization able condition employment certain activities subscription particular religious tenets willing countenance imposition condition deem vital certain activities constitute part religious community practice religious organization able require members community perform activities rationale suggests ideally religious organizations able discriminate basis religion respect religious activities determination made case whether activity religious secular infringement religious liberty results conditioning performance secular activity upon religious belief defended necessary community furthermore authorization discrimination circumstances accommodation simply enables church gain members normal means prescribing terms membership seek participate furthering mission community rather puts disposal religion added advantages economic leverage secular realm result authorization religious discrimination respect nonreligious activities goes beyond reasonable accommodation effect furthering religion violation establishment clause see lemon kurtzman makes application distinction difficult character activity result determining whether activity religious secular requires searching analysis results considerable ongoing government entanglement religious affairs see furthermore prospect government intrusion raises concern religious organization may chilled free exercise activity church may regard conduct certain functions integral mission may disagree religious organization therefore incentive characterize religious activities likely dispute even genuinely believed religious commitment important performing tasks well result community process shaped part prospects litigation analysis activities therefore produce excessive government entanglement religion create danger chilling religious activity risk chilling religious organizations likely arise respect nonprofit activities fact operation organized commercial enterprise makes colorable claim purely secular orientation contrast corporation organization must utilize earnings finance continued provision goods services furnishes may distribute surplus owners see generally hansmann role nonprofit enterprise yale makes plausible church contention entity operated simply order generate revenues church activities infused religious purpose furthermore unlike corporations nonprofits historically organized specifically provide certain community services simply engage commerce churches often regard provision services means fulfilling religious duty providing example way life church seeks foster nonprofit activities therefore likely present cases characterization activity religious secular close question danger religious organization deterred classifying religious activities actually regards religious likely domain substantial potential chilling religious activity makes inappropriate determination character nonprofit organization justifies categorical exemption nonprofit activities exemption demarcates sphere deference respect activities likely religious permits infringement employee free exercise rights instances discrimination likely reflect religious community every nonprofit activity may operated religious purposes likelihood many makes categorical rule suitable means avoid chilling exercise religion sensitivity individual religious freedom dictates religious discrimination permitted respect employment religious activities concern autonomy religious organizations demands avoid entanglement chill religious expression determination produce escape fact aims tension nature nonprofit activities believe categorical exemption enterprises appropriately balances competing concerns result concur judgment nonprofit deseret gymnasium may avail automatic exemption title vii proscription religious discrimination fact religious organization permitted rather required impose burden irrelevant significant burden effect exemption see lemon kurtzman exemption nature merely permits certain behavior never stopped examining effect exemptions free religion regulations placed others see lee granting exemption social security taxes employer operates impose employer religious faith employees walz tax legislative purpose granting tax exemption determinative must also sure end result effect excessive government entanglement religion see also wisconsin yoder must ignore danger exception general obligation citizenship religious grounds may run afoul establishment clause approach reflects concern impact exemptions others also awareness government promotes religion effectively fosters close identification powers responsibilities religious denominations attempts inculcate specific religious doctrines identification conveys message government endorsement religion core purpose establishment clause violated grand rapids school dist ball james madison expressed hold fundamental undeniable truth religion duty owe creator manner discharging directed reason conviction force violence religion every man must left conviction conscience every man right every man exercise may dictate madison memorial remonstrance religious assessment writings james madison hunt ed quoting virginia declaration rights art see barth christian community civil community community state church cover term foreword nomos narrative harv rev cf perry authority text tradition reason theory constitutional interpretation cal rev tradition represents particular history narrative central motif aspiration particular form life certain projects goals ideals central discourse argument form life cultivated revised quite recently common state laws permit entity incorporate nonprofit formed serve one limited set purposes hansmann role nonprofit enterprise yale many however permit formation nonprofit corporation lawful purpose ibid possible easily transform enterprise appeared commercial substance one nonprofit form church decision might signal church regarded religious character entity significant willing forgo direct financial benefits order able hire persons committed church mission nonetheless experience proved nonprofit incorporation frequently used simply evade title vii find necessary reconsider judgment cases furthermore justice notes excellent concurrence exemption provided nonprofit activity objective observer perceive government action accommodation exercise religion rather government endorsement religion post also conceivable activities religious character religious discrimination respect activities justified cases cases us however involve nonprofit organization believe categorical exemption authorizing discrimination particularly appropriate entities claims possess religious dimension especially colorable justice blackmun concurring judgment essentially reasons set forth justice opinion particularly third final paragraphs thereof concur judgment fully agree distinction drawn seems obscure far enlighten justice post surely question constitutionality exemption applied activities religious organizations remains open post justice concurring judgment although agree judgment write separately note action illustrates certain difficulties inherent use test articulated lemon kurtzman see wallace jaffree concurring judgment lynch donnelly concurring result problematic analysis holding opinion extends nonprofit organizations reasoning fails acknowledge amended raises different questions applied profit nonprofit organizations wallace jaffree supra noted tension use lemon test evaluate establishment clause challenge government efforts accommodate free exercise religion one hand rigid application lemon test invalidate legislation exempting religious observers generally applicable government obligations definition legislation religious purpose effect promoting free exercise religion hand judicial deference legislation purports facilitate free exercise religion completely vitiate establishment clause statute pertaining religion viewed accommodation free exercise rights wallace jaffree supra necessary first step evaluating establishment clause challenge government action lifting religious organizations generally applicable regulatory burden recognize government action effect advancing religion necessary second step separate benefits religion constitutionally accommodate free exercise religion provide unjustifiable awards assistance religious organizations suggested earlier opinions inquiry framed lemon test whether government purpose endorse religion whether statute actually conveys message endorsement wallace ascertain whether statute conveys message endorsement relevant issue perceived objective observer acquainted text legislative history implementation statute course order perceive government action permissible accommodation religion must fact identifiable burden exercise religion said lifted government action determination whether objective observer perceive endorsement religion question simple historical fact although evidentiary submissions may help answer question like question whether racial classifications communicate invidious message large part legal question answered basis judicial interpretation social facts lynch donnelly supra framework believe helps clarify amended raises different questions applied nonprofit organizations justice brennan observes concurrence fact operation organized commercial enterprise makes colorable claim purely secular orientation ante opinion concurring judgment cases involve government decision lift activity religious organization burden demonstrating particular nonprofit activity religious well burden refraining discriminating basis religion probability nonprofit activity religious organization involved organization religious mission view objective observer perceive government action accommodation exercise religion rather government endorsement religion clear however activities conducted religious organizations solely enterprises likely directly involved religious mission organization express opinion issue emphasize holding view appropriate establishment clause analysis question constitutionality exemption applied activities religious organizations remains open