Supreme Court hears Catholic groups' claim for religious tax exemption
The case arises from Wisconsin, where officials said groups linked to the Catholic Church could not obtain a religious exemption from the state's unemployment assistance tax.
WASHINGTON — Delving into the latest in a series of religious rights cases, the Supreme Court on Monday considers whether Wisconsin officials wrongly concluded that Catholic-affiliated charitable groups were not eligible for an exemption from a state tax that funds unemployment benefits.
Although the state allows exemptions for churches and associated nonprofits, it concluded that the groups operating under the umbrella of the Catholic Charities Bureau of the Diocese of Superior were not sufficiently religious in purpose to receive the same treatment.
The groups in question — Headwaters, Barron County Developmental Services, Diversified Services and Black River Industries — primarily serve developmentally disabled people. The programs are open to non-Catholics.
The groups argue that their rights have been violated under the free exercise clause of the Constitution’s First Amendment. The provision has long been interpreted to exempt religious institutions from taxation.
The court has a 6-3 conservative majority that is sympathetic to religious claims and has in a series of recent cases strengthened the free exercise clause.
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