Mexico's top electoral court has upheld the constitutionality of a law the prevents priests and ministers from favoring one political candidate or party over another, or urging citizens to abstain from voting.

The Federal Electoral Tribunal said last week in a statement announcing the ruling, that Article 130 of the nation's constitution prohibits such actions.

The judges also said religious leaders are barred from speaking out in public meetings or in worship ceremonies against the country's laws or institutions or degrading national symbols

The court went on to say that the measure is necessary because of the clear influence that religious leaders have in certain sectors of the community.

This ban is aimed at upholding the principle of free and direct universal suffrage established in the constitution, according to the judges.