Union tells Catholic teacher to ‘change religion’ or pay forced dues

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Comments: 9

Columbus, Ohio, Jan 26, 2007 / 11:45 am (CNA).- A Catholic teacher in Ohio was told she could only be exempt from paying union dues to the Ohio Education Association (OEA), if she changed religions. The teacher had requested and exemption after learning that the dues would assist in the promotion of abortion.

Carol Katter, a mathematics and language arts instructor in the St. Mary’s district, filed a federal complaint in the U.S. District Court in Columbus this week over an Ohio law that prevents her from diverting her dues from a union that supports abortion on demand, reported CNSNews.com.

The state law allows only those public employees who belong to two particular denominations, who have history of objection to union membership — Seventh-Day Adventist and Mennonite — the right to claim religious objection to paying union dues.

Katter filed the complaint against top officials of the State Employment Relations Board (SERB) for religious discrimination. She filed a related charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against her union. She claims a union official told her to pay forced dues or "change religions."

Katter's complaint says the Ohio statute amounts to an unconstitutional establishment of religion. She wants a federal injunction prohibiting SERB from further enforcing the law against other state employees.

Katter explained that her request was turned down "basically because I could not come up with proof that my individual church -- not the Catholic faith, but my individual church -- had a record of anyone having successfully fought a union. In my little parish church, no one's ever done this, and that's what threw it out."

Comments: 9

Subscriber comments:

Published by: beth
madison, Ohio USA 04/10/2009 07:42 PM EST

we need more people like Ms/Mrs katter-firmly rooted in her Faith and willing to stand up for life! I am tyring to find a way out of the union I am in on my opposition to Abortion and the "union support" of it.

Published by: E Miller
Springfield, Oh,U.S.A. 06/19/2007 07:47 PM EST

I give kuddos to any one who has the strength to fight for what they know is right. Bless you for taking a stand against the almighty dollar. I hope you will be given the right that you deserve.

Published by: Gerard C. O'Brien
Indian Orchard, MA 02/22/2007 06:38 PM EST

Carol Katter is right on the money. What is reprehensible is where are all our other"Catholic" teachers? In Aug. 2003, I won my U.S. District Court lawsuit against the City of Sprinffield and the SEA/MTA/NEA, teacher's union. I had been suspended twice for 2 weeks without pay by 2 different Superintendents for my refusal to pay money to that demonized union. They support abortion rights and send money to fight the cause but teachers sit back and let them use it. Anyhow, Federal Regulation CFR 29 allows one to send their money to a charity. I won because for 10 years they allowed a 7th Day Adventist to pay his money to a charity but not me, a Catholicand the judge saw that bias. After many grueling years in the MCAD I had to sue in federal court. The judge sided with me and all of my money in escrow went to a charity, my back pay was returned, and legal fees were paid. Don't give up..the is the only mantra you need. Too many teachers wimp out. Way to go, Carol.

Published by: Robert
Bella Vista AR 02/09/2007 04:56 PM EST

The teachers union has all sorts of non-classroom positions on politics and policy. Most teachers have to join just to be considered for a job. A radical few write the stuff that colors them all. It is an abuse.

Published by: Warren
Northwest Ohio 02/06/2007 08:05 AM EST

Rate: Excellent

I am also a teacher in Ohio and an OEA member. Most of my colleagues are Catholic, though I am not (although I am a strong supporter of the rights of the unborn). We have often wondered why a teachers’ union would even have a position on abortion. The OEA should focus on issues related to the teaching profession - period.

Published by: Dan Mathews
Kent, CT USA 01/29/2007 06:07 PM EST

God bless Ms. Katter. She is a real hero. I pray that all of hre fellow Catholics in teachers' unions will follow suit, literally and figuratively.

Published by: Lee
Oswego,IL 01/29/2007 04:47 PM EST

How stupid can a teacher's union be??? They support killing off their jobs!! The NEA is pro-abortion too!! Fishermen might as well legislate against FISHING!!!

Published by: George Angel
Canada 01/29/2007 08:48 AM EST

Every precedent that has been fought and won on a whole array of life and family issues has been set by one case. Carol Katter's case would make a perfect example that would set a precedent for an exemption for Catholics that compromise a vast majority of the entire United States population. Just in the Mexican Spanish speaking community of the U.S. there is a population of about 30,000,000, the vast majority of which are Catholics. Why discriminate against Catholics in a country where tens of millions of its residents are Catholic? The other question is what gives a teacher's union the right to use their member's money to promote abortion? If the Ohio Education Association was a truly democratic union which unions always seem to suggest, an issue as contriversial, devisive and morally unacceptable to people of many faiths like abortion should autimatically be discussed with members that join the union in the first place. An opting out clause for any teacher regardless of faith that does not want any money going to promote something as serious as abortion should be available to those members that do not support their hard owned money going to promote abortion. Carol Katter's money could promote adoption. If the Ohio Education Association were a truly democratic union they would not ask Carol Katter to change her faith to be exempt. It is the story of Saint Thomas More all over again but with a modern spin. Renounce your faith or loose your job! Pray, Pray, Pray!

Published by: Oscar
Sandusky, OH 01/28/2007 04:50 AM EST

Bravo to Miss/Mrs. Katter! I guess it's time her parish, and the worldwide Catholic Church, clarified to the SERB the Church's strong position on this critically important issue - so it doesn't happen again elsewhere, ever!

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