The U.S. Supreme Court is considering a case involving Catholic Charities in Wisconsin, which seeks exemption from the state’s mandatory unemployment compensation system. Despite being a charitable organization with a religious mission, Catholic Charities argues for its exemption based on its activities that include non-Catholics and prohibit proselytizing. Wisconsin, however, argues that the organization does not meet the criteria for religious exemption as other similar non-profits do not seek such status. The case highlights the ongoing debate over religious exemptions in legal frameworks for state benefits.
"I don't think that detracts from the fact that this is part of a religious mission," says Eric Rassbach, who is representing Catholic Charities in the Supreme Court. "The Catholic Church tells people that you're supposed to help other people."
The state of Wisconsin says that is not enough to qualify for an exemption from the compulsory state compensation system.
Ironically, the case comes from Wisconsin, which in 1932, at the height of the Great Depression, became the first state in the nation to set up an unemployment compensation program.
The only exemptions were for religious employers who conduct programs that are "operated primarily for religious purposes."
Collection
[
|
...
]