Educators' dues being used against Prop. 8

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Many Christian teachers in California are upset with their union for donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to defeat Proposition 8, and then writing a check for another million dollars on top of that. California Teachers Association, the state affiliate of the National Education Association, has made the donations to kill Prop. 8, a November 4 voter initiative that would overturn the state Supreme Court's decision in May to legalize homosexual "marriage." After stating it only makes recommendations to union members -- "The final choice is always up to you," the union states on its website -- CTA contends passage of the proposition would establish "one set of rules for gay and lesbian couples and another set of rules for everyone else. That's not fair."

Finn Laursen, director of the Christian Educators Association International -- which offers educators an alternative to the liberal efforts of the NEA -- reacts to the news of CTA members' dues being used to undermine traditional marriage. "That's obviously what the union has decided," he says. "That money speaks loudly so they're going to invest in the political arena in one of their agendas."

According to Laursen, many Christian educators are also upset with the national organization. "Our phones have been ringing off the hook -- not only since this news, but even [about] the millions upon millions of dollars that the NEA has been investing in the Obama campaign," he shares.

California teachers can make their dues send a message the California group, he adds. "They can ask that all political contributions that come out of their dues be returned to them," says Laursen.

Then teachers can utilize the funds in any fashion they want, he explains, including donating to causes they can endorse. Laursen says many calls they have received want information about joining Christian Educators Association International.

CTA's State Council of Education, which consists of more than 800 member delegates, determined the union's recommendation on Prop. 8.