Washington The question of whether a nonprofit organization associated with the Catholic Church is eligible for a religious exemption from Wisconsin’s unemployment tax system was accepted by the Supreme Court on Friday.
The Diocese of Superior’s Catholic Charities Bureau filed an appeal after the Wisconsin Supreme Court declared in March that its operations were not religious in nature, depriving the several organizations under its supervision of the same exemption granted to strictly religious organizations.
The issue focuses on whether the First Amendment of the Constitution, which safeguards religious freedom, would be violated if the tax were mandatory. It has long been believed that the clause exempts religious organizations from paying taxes.
In a statement, Eric Rassbach, an attorney for the challengers at the public interest law firm Becket, stated, “Wisconsin is trying to make sure no good deed goes unpunished.” “Penalizing Catholic Charities for serving Catholics and non-Catholics alike is ridiculous and wrong.”
According to the Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission, the nonprofit organizations were not run principally for religious reasons as defined by Wisconsin law.
The organizations in question, Black River Industries, Diversified Services, Barron County Developmental Services, and Headwaters, primarily assist individuals with developmental disabilities.
The state court determined that the majority of the group’s activities were secular, pointing out that neither religious materials nor an effort are made to instill the Catholic religion in program members. All individuals, Catholic or not, are welcome to participate in the programs.
“The Wisconsin unemployment compensation system was established in 1932 to offer a safety net for individuals who lose their jobs and are “depending upon others for their survival,” according to court documents the commission wrote.
The conservative 6-3 majority on the Supreme Court frequently solicits religious claims.
The court was also petitioned to take up the matter by groups representing different Christian denominations and members of other religious communities, including as Jews and Sikhs.
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