The Supreme Court is being petitioned by Catholic Charities to safeguard First Amendment rights during their conflict with the state.

The Wisconsin-based Catholic Charities organization is petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to maintain its exemption from the state's unemployment program.

The Diocese of Superior's Catholic Charities, represented by Becket Law, is petitioning the Supreme Court to reverse a Wisconsin Supreme Court decision and to acknowledge its religious mission in caring for the poor, elderly, and disabled.

Earlier this year, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that Catholic Charities' service to the poor and needy was not considered "typical" religious activities. Now, the diocese's social ministry arm is seeking to be exempt from the state's unemployment compensation program so it can join the Wisconsin Catholic Church's program.

"Bishop James Powers of the Diocese of Superior stated, "Our Catholic Charities Bureau is crucial to our Diocese's mission of serving the most vulnerable members of our society. We hope the Court will acknowledge that this work, which aims to enhance the human condition, stems from Christ's command to care for the needy.""

Under Wisconsin law, non-profits that operate for religious purposes are typically exempt from the state's programs. However, the Wisconsin Supreme Court determined that Catholic Charities was not exempt, as it serves all individuals, not just Catholics.

The court ruled that Catholic Charities could receive an exemption if it restricted its hiring to Catholics and attempted to convert those it served. However, lawyers contend that the Catholic Church prohibits Catholics from requiring acceptance of its teachings as a condition for receiving assistance.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court deemed it unusual that Catholic Charities does not try to convert those it assists to the Catholic faith and hires employees regardless of religion. The court ruled that since Catholic Charities offers services that can be provided by organizations with either religious or secular motivations, those services do not have a religious purpose.

"In essence, it is irrelevant whether Catholic Charities provides water in the name of Jesus or not, as non-religious charities also offer cups of water."

The petition argues that the absurd outcome widens the gap between state courts that demand religious organizations to adhere to stereotypes in order to be eligible for the "religious purposes" exemption and those that do not.

The implementation of this policy raises First Amendment questions for state governments under the Free Exercise Clause, the Establishment Clause, and the church autonomy doctrine, as it requires agencies and courts to evaluate the religious decisions of religious organizations.

The state law in Wisconsin is being challenged by Catholic Charities, which is seeking a religious exemption.

"Eric Rassbach, senior counsel at Becket, stated that it is not necessary for a theologian to comprehend that serving the poor is a religious obligation for Catholics. However, the Wisconsin Supreme Court reached an incorrect conclusion that Catholic Charities lacks a religious purpose. As a result, Becket is requesting the Supreme Court to rectify this error."

The Supreme Court may choose to hear the case this fall.

The Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission declined to provide a comment to Planet Chronicle Digital.