Washington DC, Jun 27, 2007 / 11:25 am (
CNA).- A U.S. District Court judge struck down an Ohio law that allowed only those public employees who belong to certain religious denominations the right to claim a religious objection to paying union dues.
The legal challenge was mounted by a teacher in southern Ohio, Carol Katter, who said a union official told her to pay dues or change religions.
“It’s wonderful, just wonderful,” the math and language arts instructor told Cybercast News Service on Friday, after Judge Gregory Frost issued his decision.
Front struck down Ohio Revised Code section 4117.09(C) as a violation of Katter’s First Amendment rights. He also permanently enjoined the State Employment Relations Board from further enforcing that law.
The law in question stated that any public employee, who was a member of a “bona fide religion or religious body which has historically held conscientious objections to joining or financially supporting an employee organization … shall not be required to join or financially support any employee organization.”
Katter, a lifelong Catholic, had always declined membership in the Ohio Education Association, a state chapter of the National Education Association, because of its position in favor of abortion.
But dues became mandatory last year. When she spoke to the union attorney, she was told her she had two choices - pay her dues or “change religions.”
