Last Thursday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court handed down a significant decision regarding how the law should treat religious charitable organizations. By a 4-3 vote, it determined that certain Roman Catholic charities do not get an exemption from paying Wisconsin’s unemployment tax. In doing so, the justices showcased a growing problem on the part of an increasingly secular society that misunderstands Christianity.
Four charities operating under the Catholic Charities Bureau based in Superior, Wisconsin, sought the exemption. They focus on helping those with mental or health disabilities and those in poverty, providing various means to help with training, job placement, and other services. By Wisconsin law, organizations run by religious groups and whose primary purpose is religious receive the exemption from paying into the system.
