WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a case about whether a charitable group linked with the Catholic Church can claim a religious exemption from Wisconsin’s unemployment tax system. The Catholic Charities Bureau of the Diocese of Superior appealed after the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in March that its activities are not religious in purpose, meaning the various groups it controls could not obtain the same exemption that strictly religious entities can get. The Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission had concluded that the charitable groups were not “operated primarily for religious purposes” under Wisconsin law. The Supreme Court has a 6-3 conservative majority that is often solicitous of religious claims. Groups representing various Christian denominations and people of other religious faiths, including Jews and Sikhs, also asked the court to take up the case.

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Persons: WASHINGTON —, Eric Rassbach, Becket Organizations: Catholic, Catholic Charities Bureau, Catholic Charities, Wisconsin Labor, Industry, Barron County Developmental Services, Black, Industries Locations: Superior, Wisconsin, Barron County