Toledo, December 20, 2019 — The Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie (SHoWLE) are conÂcerned about the recent legal issues involvÂing 14 Amish houseÂholds in Lenawee County Michigan.
We do believe that laws that have a genÂuine secÂuÂlar purÂpose, such as health regÂuÂlaÂtions, should apply equalÂly to all peoÂple withÂout regard to reliÂgious beliefs.
We also believe that when govÂernÂment agenÂcies engage with reliÂgious groups like the Amish, that engageÂment should be done in a posÂiÂtive and helpÂful manÂner. Where strict reliÂgious beliefs conÂflict with pracÂtiÂcal regÂuÂlaÂtions we would like to see an effort to accomÂmoÂdate the reliÂgious group while still getÂting the group to comÂply with the health laws in quesÂtion.
The aggresÂsive and antagÂoÂnisÂtic behavÂior of the Lenawee County Health Department is not the posÂiÂtive and helpÂful effort we want to see.
The Amish comÂmuÂniÂty has a long hisÂtoÂry in Ohio and we would think the peoÂple at the Lenawee County Health Department might look to see how Ohio health offiÂcials interÂact with the Amish here.
SHoWLE also agrees with Mike Ferner, founder and coorÂdiÂnaÂtor of the Toledo-based Advocates for a Clean Lake Erie, that Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations in the Lenawee counÂty pose more of a threat to the chilÂdren than 14 outÂhousÂes in the Amish comÂmuÂniÂty.
Condemnation and removal of the housÂes seems like overkill and we feel the Lenawee County Health Department is wrong to use the threat over a small group of peoÂple who refuse to use techÂnolÂoÂgy and elecÂtricÂiÂty.
We feel there is a betÂter way to resolve the issue.
About Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie
The misÂsion of the Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie is to proÂvide a supÂportÂive local comÂmuÂniÂty for humanÂists and othÂer nonÂtheÂists, while proÂmotÂing an ethÂiÂcal, reaÂsonÂable, and secÂuÂlar approach to life through eduÂcaÂtion, comÂmuÂniÂty serÂvice, outÂreach, activism, and social events.
We enviÂsion a Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan where secÂuÂlar peoÂple are respectÂed and inteÂgratÂed in broadÂer sociÂety, live valÂues of reaÂson and comÂpasÂsion, and enjoy a friendÂly humanÂist comÂmuÂniÂty.
Media Contacts
Douglas Berger — President
419–356-8568
Shawn Meagley
419–266-7945
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For furÂther backÂground: Lenawee County sued over treatÂment of Amish resÂiÂdents