Future Retirement Success
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks

Future Retirement Success

Politics

Appellate court sides with Amish community in religious freedom septic tank case

by July 11, 2023
July 11, 2023
Appellate court sides with Amish community in religious freedom septic tank case

Members of a deeply conservative Amish community in Minnesota don’t need to install septic systems to dispose of their ‘gray water,’ the state Court of Appeals ruled Monday in a long-running religious freedom case that went all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court.

A three-judge panel ruled that the government ‘failed to demonstrate a compelling state interest’ to justify overriding the religious freedom of the Amish families that challenged state regulations governing the disposal of gray water, which is water that’s been used for dishwashing, laundry, and bathing, but not toilet waste.

The Swartzentruber Amish in southeastern Minnesota are among the most traditional Amish groups in the country, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch noted in a 2021 ruling. It sent the case back to Minnesota courts for reconsideration in light of a high court decision a month earlier in a different religious freedom case. That ruling went in favor of a Philadelphia-based Catholic foster care agency that said its religious views prevented it from working with same-sex couples.

A Minnesota district court last September concluded that the government showed that it had a compelling state interest ‘of the highest order’ in requiring the Swartzentruber Amish to use septic tanks to protect groundwater supplies in the area. The families then appealed again. The Court of Appeals sided with them Monday, and sent the case back to the lower court for an order in favor of the Amish.

Fillmore County in 2013 started requiring homes to have modern septic systems to dispose of gray water. The Swartzentruber Amish sought an exemption, saying their religion prohibits that technology. They sued in 2017. For years they had discharged their gray water directly onto the ground. They offered instead to use mulch basins filled with wood chips to filter the water, as allowed in some other states, but the government argued that mulch basins would be ineffective.

The federal religious freedom law that was at issue in the Philadelphia case ‘prohibits governments from infringing sincerely held religious beliefs and practices except as a last resort,’ Gorsuch explained at the time, urging the Minnesota court and local authorities to swiftly resolve the dispute.

‘In this country, neither the Amish nor anyone else should have to choose between their farms and their faith,’ Gorsuch said.

The Court of Appeals noted that the Swartzentruber Amish use some technology, but don’t own or drive automobiles, and don’t use telephones, electric lights or modern flush toilets. They supply water to their homes from cisterns and have always prohibited septic systems.

<!–>

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
–>

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Monica Tranel announces bid for congressional seat, aims to challenge Rep. Ryan Zinke in 2024
next post
NYC should be held in contempt over appalling Rikers conditions, court-appointed monitor says

You may also like

‘Squad’ Democrat Cori Bush slammed over civil rights...

December 4, 2023

Nancy Pelosi repeatedly urges White House audience to...

August 17, 2023

Israeli official warns ‘everything is on the table’...

October 6, 2024

Ex-Fauci top adviser offers apologies and excuses after...

May 23, 2024

Trump questions when FBI will raid Biden homes...

January 10, 2023

Chasten Buttigieg fires back at Democratic critic of...

December 30, 2022

Newsom’s Wife Emailed Harvey Weinstein Asking For Help...

October 19, 2022

Grenell developing ‘common sense’ plan to turn Kennedy...

March 15, 2025

Get Woke, Go Broke: Disney Reinstates Bob Iger...

November 21, 2022

Trump nominates Charles Kushner to serve as US...

November 30, 2024

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free

    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Trump ally stands firm against ‘big, beautiful bill’ despite pressure: ‘It’ll completely backfire’

      June 8, 2025
    • Rubio condemns assassination attempt on Colombian presidential candidate Miguel Uribe

      June 8, 2025
    • Obama WH physician says Biden doc should have performed cognitive test

      June 8, 2025
    • Trump warns of ‘serious consequences’ if Elon Musk funds Democrats

      June 7, 2025
    • Musk jokes about reconsidering stance on Big Beautiful Bill after Schiff’s praise

      June 7, 2025
    • Musk deletes explosive posts about Trump and Epstein files

      June 7, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (8,152)
    • Investing (2,019)
    • Politics (15,571)
    • Stocks (3,136)
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: futureretirementsuccess.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 futureretirementsuccess.com | All Rights Reserved