Katelyn Cole

This is crazy

Filed under: education, government, legal, opinion by Katelyn

I have read some strange stories but this one takes the cake.  Who ever heard of an outhouse having anything to do with religious convictions and someone being jailed because of it but it sure happened.  Just check this out.

An Amish man from Cambria County, Pennsylvania has been sentenced to 90 days in jail after claiming his religious beliefs prevent him from bringing two school outhouses into compliance with state sewage regulations. Andy Swartzentruber, of Barr Township, was jailed and fined $1,000 on a contempt of court charge for violating a previous court order. County officials said waste was collected in buckets and dumped outside.

Judge Norman Krumenacker also ordered the Amish school and outhouse on Swartzentruber’s property to be locked up until the violations are addressed. The judge said Swartzentruber could be released early if the sewage issues are resolved.

The ruling shocked about a dozen men and women in the courtroom, including his wife Frances, with whom Swartzentruber has 16 children. But he said he would rather accept jail-time than violate his religious convictions. “I stand by my religion. If I don’t, it could destroy the whole church group,” he said.

Pennsylvania Department of Education officials said the local school district is responsible for educating the school’s 18 children, or the parents could seek home-schooling or private schools. Media reports did not specify exactly what needs to be done to resolve the sewage issue.

There are some strange laws in our country and even stranger religions but the Amish are the most gentle of all of them so why in the world would the judge sentence this man to jail over an outside bathroom at that.  I wish they had given more details as to what the problem was with the outhouse but they didn’t.    One things for sure, you have to admire the man for standing by his religious convictions.  It’s rare to find someone willing to stand up for much of anything in this day in time especially when it’s something they think is right!!!