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The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of Catholic Charities Bureau (CCB), determining that Wisconsin violated the Constitution when it denied the organization a tax exemption normally granted to churches and other religious groups. The dispute centered on whether CCB and its affiliated ministries — which provide essential social services to people in need — qualified for the state’s unemployment-tax exemption for religious institutions. Wisconsin courts had previously argued that the group did not operate “primarily for religious purposes,” but the Supreme Court rejected that reasoning in a 9-0 decision.
The justices emphasized that religious freedom protects not only worship or evangelization, but also the ability of faith-based groups to express their beliefs through charitable service. The Court ruled that the state’s interpretation unfairly discriminated against organizations whose religious mission is carried out through helping others.
The decision is being hailed as a significant victory for religious liberty, reinforcing that governments cannot treat faith-driven ministries differently simply because they serve the public.
