The Sconi

Baptists and other religious groups are backing a Wisconsin branch of Catholic Charities in a legal case arguing for tax exemption from the state's unemployment insurance program due to its religious nature. The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) filed an amicus brief on February 4, supporting Catholic Charities' stance before the Supreme Court. The case revolves around the state's decision not to allow Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Superior to opt out of the state’s unemployment insurance program in favor of a program offered by Wisconsin's bishops.

"The state court ruled [in March 2024] that Catholic Charities was not exempt from the state’s unemployment compensation program 'because it serves everyone, not just Catholics,'" reported CatholicVote.

The ERLC's brief urges the Supreme Court to favor Catholic Charities, emphasizing religious freedom. "It is not right for the government to prescribe religious practice or compel a religious group to conform to its standards of what qualifies as ‘real’ religion," said ERLC Vice President Miles Mullin. He added that such judgments should be left to God.

Ten other religious organizations, including the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, joined the brief. They argued that a ruling against Catholic Charities could undermine their operations if government interference in church governance were permitted.

Ohio leads several states supporting the plaintiffs: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.

The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling this spring.

Information from this article can be found here.