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Teachers sue Pennsylvania’s largest teachers union on religious grounds

Retired teacher Jane Ladley is a Christian who says her faith guides her through life. It’s also the reason why she’s objecting to dues and fees tha...

Retired teacher Jane Ladley is a Christian who says her faith guides her through life. It's also the reason why she's objecting to dues and fees that she pays to the Pennsylvania State Education Association. "Funds do go through organizations that would support abortions to which my faith opposes," said Ladley. She also said she doesn't like their stance on gay marriage. “That is another agenda that they support which opposes the Biblical beliefs that I have,' Said Ladley.

The union agrees with her argument and has classified her as a legitimate religious objector. The law said she can donate the money that would have gone to the union, about $435 a year, to a non-religious organization of her choice. “Sustainable Freedom Scholarship, given to a high school senior who demonstrated interest in the constitution. PSEA denied my selection saying it was not acceptable to them because the sponsoring group was political," said Ladley.

She said the union provided a list of other charities they said she could donate to instead. A union spokesman said they are reviewing her case and make every effort to accommodate a teachers choice to donate to the charity they want. Despite being retired from teaching, Ladley is moving forward with the lawsuit. "It’s the principle of having the constitutional freedom to choose which organizations you join and support with your money for which I’m fighting," said Ladley.

Ladley is from Chester County. The other teacher suing, Chris Meier, is from Lancaster County. The lawsuit is being paid for by the Fairness Center, which provides free legal service to people they say are wronged by their unions. The union spokesman also said that out of the 6,000 non-union members, they're reviewing just five cases involving religious objectors. The union has 20 days to respond to the lawsuit.​

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