Overview

• The U.S. Supreme Court is deliberating whether Catholic Charities Bureau in Wisconsin qualifies for a religious exemption from state unemployment taxes.
• The case centers on whether charitable work motivated by Catholic faith, but without evangelization, can be deemed 'primarily religious' under the First Amendment.
• Wisconsin's Supreme Court previously ruled in 2024 that the organization's activities are primarily secular and do not warrant a religious exemption.
• Forty-seven states and the federal government have similar religious exemptions, making the Supreme Court's decision potentially impactful nationwide.
• A ruling is expected by June 2025, with the Court's conservative majority likely playing a pivotal role in the outcome.