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Catholic Charities Bureau v. State of Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission (2025)

On March 5, 2025, FFRF filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the State of Wisconsin. FFRF’s brief argues against the position of five Catholic-affiliated nonprofit organizations who claimed they should be exempted from the state’s unemployment insurance system. FFRF previously filed an amicus brief when this case was at the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

FFRF’s amicus points out that if the Supreme Court adopts Catholic Charities’ legal argument, it could potentially have far-reaching negative consequences for workers nationwide. Catholic Charities’ legal argument could equally apply to over 787,000 healthcare employees nationwide, FFRF argued to the high court. It also explained that Wisconsin’s inquiry into what a religiously-affiliated organization does and regulation of that organization’s secular activities is a commonplace practice that does not entangle the government in religion. 

Senior Counsel Sam Grover drafted FFRF’s amicus brief with help from Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence and Legal Fellow Hirsh M. Joshi. 

Brief

Press Release

Wisconsin Supreme Court Brief

Freedom From Religion Foundation