New Jersey Teachers Group Criticized for Promoting Pro-Abortion March
by Paul Nowak
LifeNews.com Staff Writer
March 11, 2004
Trenton, NJ (LifeNews.com) — Mary Kreiss-Papalski was shocked to open her New Jersey Education Association newsletter and find an announcement that the teacher’s union was inviting members to join the union in supporting and attending the pro-abortion March for Freedom of Choice Rally in Washington D.C. this April.
Not only was the invitation published in the March 2004 NJEA review, the announcement also stated that the Association’s Women in Education Committee, "with approval form the NJEA Executive Committee, will charter two buses for members."
"When I read this I was quite upset," said Kreiss-Papalski, an NJEA member and guidance secretary at a New Jersey high school. "I do not feel that my union dues should support this, nor do I think that a union who’s soul purpose is to represent those in the field of education should be supporting something that has nothing to do with education."
NJEA’s Director of Communications, Lynn Maher, said the announcement was in line with the union’s stance on the abortion issue.
"NJEA has a pro-choice policy position," Maher told LifeNews.com.
When asked if a similar invitation was made for the March for Life in January, Maher said that if the event was contrary to the Association’s policy, then they would not have endorsed it.
Pro-life groups are disturbed that the teacher’s union would endorse abortion — which have taken the lives of thousands of potential New Jersey students.
"It’s deeply disturbing that NJEA would align themselves with radical, extremist pro-abortion groups who continue to usurp legislative and parental authority," said Marie Tasy, Public and Legislative Affairs Director for New Jersey Right to Life.
Pro-abortion groups supporting the March for Freedom of Choice Rally include Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion business, NOW, the Feminist Majority Foundation, and the march’s organizer, NARAL.
Tasy pointed out that according to recent studies by the Alan Guttmacher Institute, the research wing of Planned Parenthood, New Jersey has the highest abortion rate of any state for teenagers, as well as the highest abortion rate for black teenagers.
"By associating themselves with radical pro-abortion groups they underscore that they are part of the problem, and not part of the solution," Tasy said of the NJEA.
"In light of the numerous public testimonies that abortion hurts women, NJEA’s position demonstrates that their best interests do not lie in the health and well-being of children," Tasy told LifeNews.com. "Parents need to communicate to NJEA that this kind of harmful advocacy is not to be tolerated.
"We urge teachers who disagree with this philosophy to withdraw support or cancel their NJEA membership," concluded Tasy.
ACTION: Contact the New Jersey Education Association with your thoughts about their pro-abortion position. NJEA, Box 1211, Trenton, NJ 08607-1211. (p) 609.599.4561, (f) 609.599.1201.
Related Sites:
NJEA – https://www.njea.org
NJ Right to Life – https://www.njrtl.org