Rewritten Description: This coming Friday, the US Supreme Court has agreed to contemplate a current issue regarding whether faith-based charitable organizations have to pay unemployment taxes for workers. Existing laws at both the state and federal level usually leave religious bodies out of the unemployment taxation system but the Court has not yet taken a stand on the stipulations for charitable bodies associated with religious factions. The matter stems from a case brought forward by Catholic Charities in Wisconsin.
Representing the humanitarian efforts of the Catholic Church, the Catholic Charities Bureau of the Diocese Superior in Wisconsin, a nonprofit organization, prides itself on carrying out its mission by providing services to the disadvantaged, regardless of race, gender or religious orientation. Though the charity doesn’t explicitly advocate religion, its endeavours are guided by moral teachings of the Church and gospel values.
Catholic Charities had earlier asked Wisconsin state for a reprieve from the unemployment tax applied to its employees, asserting its religious affiliations. However, the application was rejected by state officials who insisted that the group’s initiatives didn’t entail religious activity and consequently aren’t eligible for such tax-related benefits.
Taking the issue to court, Catholic Charities appealed to the Supreme Court against the Wisconsin decision, claiming it violated their First Amendment rights to the freedom of religion and blurred the demarcation between state and church.
The Supreme Court is set to deliberate the appeal in the coming year, and a decision is projected by the end of June.