Wisconsin Lawmakers Back Catholic Charities in SCOTUS Tax Case

The Wisconsin Legislature and groups representing various religions urged the US Supreme Court in amicus briefs filed Thursday to take up Catholic Charities’ case challenging the state high court’s test for determining whether religious organizations qualify for tax benefits.

Catholic Charities Bureau Inc. and four of its subsidiaries are challenging a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling that they don’t qualify for the state’s religious purposes tax exemption and must pay into the unemployment insurance system to cover their employees.

The charities provide job training and daily living services to people with disabilities. The Wisconsin court ruled 4-3 that a charity only ...