Supreme Court to decide if Catholic-aligned group deserves tax exemption

[Nevilledog]

https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/supreme-court-to-decide-if-catholic

The Supreme Court will soon hear a case dealing with whether religious non-profits have to pay unemployment taxes. That may be a dull description, but the consequences could be enormous, in part because SCOTUS wouldn’t have taken up the case unless they wanted to punch another hole in the wall between church and state.

It comes on the heels of a surprise (but welcome) ruling from the Wisconsin Supreme Court earlier this year. That 4-3 decision (elections matter!) was a remarkable defense of church/state separation—and it infuriated the Christian Nationalists who have come to rely on the courts to do their bidding.

The case involved the Wisconsin Unemployment Compensation Act. In short, all employers in the state are required to give money to the government to help pay eligible citizens temporary benefits when they’re out of work. But in 1972, religious non-profits were declared exempt from the law. Specifically, the law said that non-profits that are run by a church/ministry and that operate “primarily for religious purposes” do not have to pay into the system.

Last year, an appellate court ruled that the Catholic Charities Bureau (along with four of its sub-entities) was not eligible for that exemption. While no one doubted they were run by the Catholic Diocese of Superior, there was disagreement over whether their work was religious in nature.

*snip*

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Well, that will probably be an easy win for the non-profits, with 6 Catholics on the SCOTUS.

[snowybirdie]

2. A friend

Worked as a cook in a church rectory. After 20+ years of cooking for the priests. The church was closed and she was left with no pension or social security! Too bad they said.

[JoseBalow]

3. Her reward will come in heaven

if she qualifies