All articles tagged with #catholic charities
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of Catholic Charities in Wisconsin, allowing them to opt out of the state unemployment system on religious grounds, a decision that could impact similar programs nationwide.
The Supreme Court ruled that a Catholic charity in Wisconsin is not required to pay unemployment taxes, citing religious freedom protections, in a case involving exemption criteria and ongoing debates over religious rights and public funding.
The U.S. Supreme Court will decide if religious charities, like Catholic Charities in Wisconsin, are exempt from paying state unemployment taxes. While federal law exempts religious schools, the court has not ruled on religious charities. Wisconsin's state court denied the exemption, citing the secular nature of the charity's activities. Catholic Charities argues this decision violates the First Amendment's free exercise clause. The Supreme Court will hear the case early next year, with a decision expected by June.
Faith-based groups assisting migrants, such as Catholic Charities, are facing increased harassment and threats from extremists and far-right activists, fueled by conspiracy theories and political vitriol over immigration, particularly as the election nears.
The Migrant Resource Center in San Antonio is experiencing an influx of migrants arriving from the U.S.-Mexico border, with an average of 750 migrants per day, exceeding its capacity of 700. Migrants from countries such as Venezuela, Honduras, Haiti, Guatemala, and Colombia are seeking humanitarian aid, including food, clothing, and case management. Some migrants are forced to sleep behind dumpsters and in ditches due to limited space. The local authorities have not yet responded to inquiries about how they plan to handle the situation.
The City of San Antonio does not plan to open a mass shelter for migrants despite the end of Title 42, a public health policy used to quickly expel migrants from the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. The city is working on contingency plans with Catholic Charities to coordinate transportation assistance should the number of migrants greatly exceed the capacity of the Migrant Resource Center (MRC)/Centro do Bienveida. The MRC will continue to operate at capacity, and Catholic Charities is working to secure a limited number of hotel rooms.
Migrants bussed out of El Paso, Texas, due to the border crisis are mostly heading to New York City and Chicago, according to Catholic Charities. The charity uses FEMA funds to transport migrants to their final destinations, where they have family or friends. The move helps relieve pressure from El Paso, which is currently the top hot spot in the US for migrant encounters. As many as 40,000 migrants are waiting in Mexico for the US policy to expire so they can pour over the border and seek asylum.