First Liberty Institute celebrates SCOTUS decision: ‘Religious liberty is alive and well’

The Supreme Court’s recent 9-0 ruling in favor of the Catholic Charities Bureau (CCB) has been hailed as a significant victory for religious liberty in America. The ruling, which struck down Wisconsin’s attempt to withhold a religious tax exemption from the CCB, has been described as a clear rejection of government overreach into religious life.

Tiffany Dunkin, a legal fellow and attorney with the First Liberty Institute, emphasized that the decision was not a difficult one for the Supreme Court. She explained that Wisconsin’s argument that the CCB was not a religious institution because it did not proselytize or serve only Catholics was a clear violation of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from defining what it means to be religious.

The case, Catholic Charities Bureau Inc. v. Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission, raised important questions about whether faith-based nonprofits that provide public services should be considered “religious enough” to receive the same benefits as churches or houses of worship. The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision affirmed that the government has no authority to assess or rank the religious nature of charitable work.

Dunkin pointed out that this issue is not unique to Wisconsin and that similar challenges have been faced by other organizations across the country. She cited examples of charities in Ohio, Colorado, and Arizona that have been questioned by local governments about the religious nature of their charitable work.

The implications of the Supreme Court’s ruling are far-reaching. Dunkin warned that if the decision had gone the other way, it would have had grave implications for religious charities and ministries nationwide. She emphasized that the government cannot interfere in religious doctrine or pick and choose which religious activities are valid.

Moving forward, Dunkin encouraged churches and ministries to feel emboldened to continue their charitable work in accordance with their religious beliefs. She stressed that religious liberty in America is alive and well, and that the First Liberty Institute is dedicated to continuing to fight for it.

Overall, the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of the CCB has been seen as a reaffirmation of the principles of religious liberty enshrined in the First Amendment. It sends a clear message that the government cannot interfere in matters of religious belief and practice. The decision is a significant victory for religious freedom in America, and one that will have a lasting impact on charitable organizations and ministries across the country.