2 Pa. Amish farmers sentenced to jail in outhouse dispute

Two Amish farmers who said their religious convictions prevent them from operating outhouses in compliance with state sewage laws were sentenced Thursday to 90 days in jail after turning down an offer to do ...

[Amera]

I live around plenty of Amish. It seems like they try to get out of paying for most things. Such as they can't drive a car or have a telephone. That certainly does not stop them from using them. I always see them riding in someones vehicles or walking across the street to use a pay phone. If they have to pay for it, its against their religion for a lot of things. I see it as if they can't use phones and cars they should not be using them what-so-ever. And if they got in trouble for that stuff they need to come to Path Valley and gather them all up too.

[wph]

the amish/mennonite community are the biggest bunch of hypocrits in our region. they also think they are above our laws. they sicken me.

[See Chel Post]

How is community service against someone's religion??

[Amera]

They would probably do the community service for a small fee. And I do agree they think they are above laws. They use their religion to get out of things. I cannot stand Amish for this fact. They are nice people, but I do not respect a lot of things they do.

[wph]

See Chel Post wrote:

How is community service against someone's religion??

they do not consider us a part of their community. they will help their neighbor raise a barn if that neighbor is one of them. but if you arent buying something from them...they want nothing to do with you. they dont feel they have to abide by our rules...im not sure about this..but i think they dont pay taxes either.

[Embedded Citizen]

These guys are just being ridiculous. To hide behind your 'religious beliefs' is cop out in this matter.
Ride your horse and buggy all you want, just clean up your doodie!

[SBE]

I have a lot of respect for the Amish in Path Valley. I have both bought from and sold to Amish in Path Valley.

The taxes that are paid on electricity and phones shouldn't be paid by the Amish, because they don't use either. When you see them in a vehicle, they are paying the driver of that vehicle, and I'm sure the driver is NOT doing it for free. They choose not to have phones, electricity or cars for their own use, just like we choose to buy expensive packages of Cable TV, etc., but because of that choice and because us English don't understand it, some of us are very nasty to the Amish, even trying to run their buggies off of the road. That is very wrong!

I don't see where the article explains what exactly the Amish men thought was contrary to their religion - could it be an electric pump or something like that? And I don't understand why they refused the community service. Myself, I think there's more to the story, but the PO isn't telling it because it sells more papers this way.

In the meantime,

[SBE]

I've sometimes thought that their uncomplicated way of life would be nice, but then I see how hard they work. I guess I'm lazy, because I don't want to work that hard. Being a female, I also don't want my husband ruling my life.

[unreal]

because us English don't understand it, some of us are very nasty to the Amish,We are ALL american,not english american,not amish american, AMERICAN! We all have the same laws and MUST obey them. If they want to sit in jail, fine. Don't beg for someone to pay your bill, I don't.

[wow]

Okay, I am all for diversity and acceptance AND following the law, BUT I never heard of community service being against any religion.

[Smoke and Sunshine]

If a "permit" for an outhouse is the only issue at hand here then they had better look at every single Amish household in that area "if" the permit is against their religion then there is no Amish household in their sect that has one.

The elders of the sect make the "rules" which these people live by and every "sect" is different.

[ew gross yuck]

this kind of disgusts me...

but on a lighter note, who takes their mug shots or is that against their religion? if you want to see someone flip out quickly, drive to lancaster or somewhere and point a camera at them. they even hang signs up that you aren't allowed to take pictures. they believe the flash takes your soul or something....

just wondering how they handled the mug shot if they really believe this.

[Bob]

I'm astonished they got jail time. Usually, people are too squeamish to put these 'perfect little dears' in jail.

As to: "Judge Michael Zungali said he did not see how community service could be against the men's religion." I can answer that:

'Community service' would be service to the outsider's community, the 'english' as the Amish say. That's a clear violation of the total separation of Church and State. So, also, would be serving as a Police Officer, a Fireman, a member of the Town Council, on Jury Duty, or fighting for the freedom of others in the Military. He would risk eternal damnation for doing any of those things... and as such, would rather go to jail.

Come on... what kind of 'religion' thinks you'll go to hell for serving on the Town Council?

[P Miller]

Well, it looks like they pretty much got what they wanted. In thier minds they've become martyers for their faith. There is a strong history there of thier forefathers suffering for the faith and I've sensed all along that they almost desire what they see as persecution. These two men will become legends in their communitty. I also grew up Amish but a different flavor of Amish. These Swartzentruber Amish (what thier sects is called by other Amish groups)are considered extreme by even other Amish groups. They'v just proved thier reputation.

[SBE]

OK, so just because their beliefs are different than yours, you're going to trash them? Their beliefs don't hurt you at all. They don't think they are above our laws, but their interpretation of the Bible is very different from ours, and that is what leads them to reject our laws.

They really are good people, and when they are treated with respect, they do the same towards you. From the comments I've seen here, it's no wonder they reject our society!

[SBE]

The Amish believe in worshipping God, helping each other, and working hard. If more people interpreted the Bible as they do, this world would be a better place, I think. I daresay we wouldn't have people shooting at others, then trying to get a contract out on those people because they couldn't shoot straight!

[alrighty then]

"English" is what the Amish call outsiders to their faith. Mennonites and Amish are not the same. The Amish are actually an offshoot of the more liberal Mennonites. I have great deal respect for them even if I don't agree with all they say/do. I can almost see where they're coming from on this, many have had farmsteads and land in their famiies for generations. How long has our govt.(local or otherwise) required apermit for an outhouse? You can bet the amish were there before said permits were required to allow them to do on THEIR land, what they've done for generations. Just a thought here.

[Smoke and Sunshine]

I have lived around the Amish all my life and most of them are very nice people once you get to know them. They live a simpler life than we do and in some ways that is good.

[Mantis]

Leave the Amish alone. I went to an Amish Peep Show in Lancaster and let me tell you, they have some nice looking ankles.

[Bucky Beaver]

many of these comments are way off base.. I live in a community where many of the homes are built by Amish craftsman. yes, they do pay for drivers to take them place to place; they also pay for electricity that charges their cell-phones; electricty for their electric drills and power saws; and they pay for cigarettes, which I have seen the amish smoking at the front door of the local hospital when the laws state that the entire hospital proerty is smoke free. Brings up one last item; when my wife was in the hospital having our child, the next 3 rooms from us were all Amish families delivering children.