Supreme Court Seems Sympathetic to Catholic Charity in Religious Rights Dispute

A divided lower court previously ruled Catholic Charities is not exempt from unemployment tax because it is not ‘operated primarily for religious purposes.’

The Supreme Court in Washington on March 17, 2025. Win McNamee/Getty Images

The U.S. Supreme Court on March 31 seemed inclined to side with a Wisconsin Catholic charity that argues that it should not have to pay unemployment tax.

The nation’s highest court granted the petition in Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission on Dec. 13, 2024.