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HAF joins amicus brief in Catholic Charities Bureau case
Prior to HAF’s involvement, the amicus brief primarily reflected the perspectives of Christianity, Catholicism, Islam, and Judaism.
By joining the amicus brief, HAF and other religious groups seek to highlight the broader implications of the case. / HAF
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) has joined an amicus brief filed in the U.S. Supreme Court case ‘Catholic Charities Bureau Inc. v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission’. Amicus brief is a legal document submitted by a person or group that is not directly involved in a case. The brief, submitted on Feb.3, includes 11 religious organizations and argues against government interference in defining religious activities.
Prior to HAF’s involvement, the amicus brief primarily reflected the perspectives of Christianity, Catholicism, Islam, and Judaism. HAF said that it drafted language to ensure that Hindu perspectives on charitable giving and religious organizational structures were also represented, particularly in the context of how Hindu religious practices can differ in the United States.
“The government should not get involved in deciding what activities are ‘religious’ for any religion, and this principle is particularly important to safeguarding religious freedom for religious minorities whose views may not be well understood,” said HAF legal director Needhy Shah.
Background: The Catholic Charities Bureau case
The case centers on whether Catholic Charities Bureau, a nonprofit affiliated with the Catholic Church, qualifies for a religious exemption from Wisconsin’s unemployment insurance program. Catholic Charities provides essential services—including healthcare, housing, childcare, and employment assistance—to thousands of disadvantaged individuals in northern Wisconsin, fulfilling what it describes as the Catholic Church’s religious mission.
Under Wisconsin law, nonprofit organizations operated primarily for religious purposes can opt out of the state’s unemployment insurance program. Catholic Charities sought an exemption to instead enroll in the Wisconsin Bishops’ Church Unemployment Pay Program (CUPP), a faith-based alternative offering equivalent benefits.
However, in 2024, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Catholic Charities did not qualify for the religious exemption, reasoning that its service to the poor was not a “typical” religious activity. The court’s decision effectively separated Catholic Charities from the Diocese of Superior and required the organization to remain in the state’s program.
Implications for religious freedom
Catholic Charities, represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case after the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld the denial of the religious exemption. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the case during its 2024-2025 term.
Supporters of Catholic Charities argue that the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision undermines religious freedom by allowing secular courts to determine which activities qualify as religious. Critics warn that this precedent could penalize faith-based organizations that provide services to the broader community without proselytizing.
By joining the amicus brief, HAF and other religious groups seek to highlight the broader implications of the case, emphasizing that government interference in defining religious activity threatens the autonomy of faith-based organizations across different traditions.
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