Union settles with teacher on fees believed used to support abortion

Published: 2004-07-16

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (CNS) -- A Springfield teacher who has fought an 18-year battle to prevent part of his salary from supporting what he says is lobbying for abortion has finally prevailed. At a June 30 hearing in U.S. District Court in Springfield, the Springfield Education Association said it had given up its claim to an "agency fee" from Gerard O'Brien, a parishioner of Immaculate Conception Parish in Indian Orchard. O'Brien has been a physical education teacher with the Springfield Public Schools since 1975. In April 1986, he first became aware that the association and its affiliated state and national unions had adopted policies concerning abortion and birth control that were contrary to his Catholic beliefs. During his lengthy court battles, O'Brien cited the votes of local delegates to a Massachusetts Teachers Association convention in favor of health programs that included information on birth control and condom distribution in the public schools. Local delegates also voted to support "the right to reproductive freedom" at a National Education Association convention.

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