Supreme Court sides with Catholic Charities in case about tax exemptions and religion

[Jose Garcia]

Source: USA TODAY

WASHINGTON − The Supreme Court on June 5 said Wisconsin should not have denied a tax exemption to a Catholic Charities chapter, the latest in a series of rulings the justices have decided in favor of faith groups.

The court unanimously ruled that the state violated the First Amendment's protection for religion and discriminated against the religious organization in Wisconsin.

"There may be hard calls to make in policing that rule, but this is not one," Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote.

Wisconsin’s law, which is similar to most states' and the federal government’s, grants exemptions from its unemployment insurance program for certain church-controlled organizations that are “operated primarily for religious purposes.”

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/06/05/supreme-court-catholic-charities-tax-exemption-religious-rights/83386550007/

[Snackshack]

1. If I understand right.

All that is needed now is an affiliation w/ religion to get tax exemption status?

If that is the case... when making spaghetti last week the "FSM" paid me a visit and asked if I would store some of its stuff in my shed.... so now I am affiliated.

I am hoping I'm wrong, if so pls correct me.

[ancianita]

2. You don't.

Catholic Charities is not an "affiliate."

Catholic Charities is an essential part of the Catholic Church. In fact, Catholic Charities is the American part of Caritas International -- the largest non-governmental charity on planet Earth.

[Snackshack]

5. Thanks for the clarification.

This means any 501(c)(3) in the world can drop "Catholic" in front of their name and become tax-exempt, they don't actually have to be a church.

[ancianita]

7. YW

No it doesn't mean that. That's just what YOU want it mean. But the 2,000 year old Catholic Church itself will absolutely not allow just any 501(c)(3) org to put the Church's name on that org's name.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Charities_USA

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. it's not "essential". The Catholic church managed happily without for 1800 years.

And then it set up a charity, which does the same kind of thing as non-religious charities, ie help people, rather than convert people to their supernatural belief. But they have to pay taxes it doesn't.

This is an effect of the bizarre American genuflecting to religion, such that anything religion touches becomes sacred, literally. I suspect there are very few other countries where Caritas can evade taxes and get the nod of legal approval.

A truly caring charity would just pay the damn tax, to take care of its employees, and to be good citizens along with the rest of the country.

[Nigrum Cattus]

10. ALL religious organizations in the U.S. are parasites

That use ALL public services and pay ZERO for them !!!
Pay up or stop using the police, fire, roads, infrastructure, etc.
If you want to play you gotta pay.

[moniss]

3. A big problem here is the idea of tax exemptions

for organizations to begin with. But nobody wants to have that broader discussion about the explosion in various groups operating more as for profit businesses than anything else. Especially the 501c3 designation. Those groups function as ad hoc consultants for various politicians, business groups etc. and serve as training grounds for people to move up to run for office and as a landing spot with a nice salary for defeated candidates and elected officials.

End the entire thing. Let people give money because they believe in something not because they get a tax break and let organizations exist because they want to provide something just like others do and pay taxes on their income.

[Polybius]

4. 9-0

Hard to argue with that.

[Jacson6]

6. So if an paid employee of a "religious" org is laid off they will have to sink or swim.

Got it. I'm sure Tesla will next declare itself a religion to get out of taxes.

[onenote]

8. Be sure to let us know when that happens.