03/31/2025

SCOTUS Appears Supportive of Tax Exemption for Catholic Charities

The case has implications for other religiously connected nonprofits

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) justices from across the ideological spectrum expressed deep concern Monday about the denial of a state tax exemption for Catholic Charities on the grounds that the nonprofit is not "operated primarily for religious purposes."

During a nearly two-hour argument that touched on theology and philosophy, a majority of justices appeared ready to reverse a Wisconsin state court ruling that denied Catholic Charities the tax exemptions that the Catholic Church and other religious institutions receive.

Liberal Justice Elena Kagan and conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch, among others, emphasized that courts should not be in the business of second-guessing what activities count as religious; they suggested the state had impermissibly discriminated based on religion.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.