The US Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Superior’s care for the poor, the elderly, and the disabled is part of its religious mission. The Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission argues that because the charity cares for Catholics and non-Catholics alike it cannot leave the state’s unemployment compensation program. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled four to three earlier this year that Catholic Charities’ service to the poor and needy was not “typical” religious activity.
Wisconsin Family Council was part of a friend-of-the-court brief when this case went to the state supreme court. Our state’s high court’s ruling says the state has the right to tell religious organizations what is and what isn’t legitimate religious activity, in violation of both the US and the state constitutions. The US Supreme Court has an opportunity to right this egregious wrong.
