"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"
- 1st Amendment

Which statement BEST explains one meaning of the guarantees provided in this excerpt from the 1st Amendment?

A. Criminal laws and moral public standards do not apply to people who are acting according to their religious beliefs.

B. Due to separation of church and state, the Federal Government cannot protect religious rights.

C. Each person is free to believe as he or she wishes in religious matters.

D. Government may use tax money to pay for teacher salaries at parochial schools.