Didn't Western society go through an Age of Reason to get away from this 'higher authority' garbage? The US is supposed to be a brave, new world where everyone is glad of the separation between religion and state? The US left behind judging people on religion? Do these people not realise that this is a backward step? Why do they still wonder why no one else wishes to adopt the American Dream?
Get out now, before the place is called the Christian States of America, religious persecution starts and the borders are closed.