Religious colonies fight attempts to impose labor laws

The Montana Supreme Court did not immediately rule after hearing competing arguments from a Hutterite colony and the state on whether Montana's requirement that employers carry workers' compensation insurance can be expanded to religious organizations.

The Hutterites in rural Montana are fighting state attempts to impose the legislation backed by businesses, which complain they can't outbid the low cost of the communal workers.

A state judge has already ruled the 2009 law expanding the workers' compensation law to force the Hutterites to pay for the insurance violated their right to freely exercise their religion.

The state is asking the high court to reverse that decision, arguing the new law deals only with commercial activities and stays out of the Hutterites religious affairs.

The Hutterites are Protestants similar to the Amish and Mennonites who live a life centered on their religion, but unlike the others, Hutterites live in German-speaking communes scattered across northern U.S. states and Canada.

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msjallen

As long as they are not breaking the law of the land or hurting people they should be allowed to live their lifestyle in peace. If they can outbid jobs then more power to them. We live in a greedy material society and we should all focus more on God's Word than our own desires. This does not mean that I agree with their interpretation of scripture but that is between them and the Lord.
Phil 4:11-13 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (…who keeps on pouring the power into me.)
I Peter 5:10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
- daves
  
  Do you think they should speak English or do you oppose an official declaration that English should be the official language of the U.S.
  - msjallen
    
    That was a real dumb question.
    - daves
      
      Why?
    - daves
      
      Ad Hominem – Attacking the individual instead of the argument.
      
      Example: You are so stupid your argument couldn't possibly be true.
  - keyboardshark
    
    Having English as the official language and forcing a group of people to speak it is two different things. All that a declaration of English as the official language accomplishes is to declare English as the official language of the Government of the United States, not force every individual to speak it.
    http://www.pbs.org/newshour/forum/background/offi…
  - Sonny Magoo
    
    English IS the official language. These folks are not asking for accomodation. The reason why they are here IS the reason for America. The govt has no business with these folks as should be with us all.
Randy131

How can you force on an organization, workers compensation, which is based on a percentage of the amount of money paid to employees in wages, when this religious organization does not pay a wage to it's members, for they volunteer their services, and at the end, are allowed to take anything from their commune that meets their needs, and no more? This is their religious belief, which is protected under the 1st Amendment to the US Constitution, is this religious commune really hurting businesses in the state of Montana to the point where their 1st Amendment rights are to be violated? Which is more important, a state law that can't be applied to a wageless organization, or the 1st Amendment rights of the US Constitution of a religious group of people?
- aceituna
  
  They should be allowed to practice their Christianity. If they are not permitted to do this when will the government start coming down on many of our church charitable organizations (Salvation Army – our local "Caritos" store etc.) which take donations, run by volunteers, sell for a few cents on the dollar to try and cover overhead expenses, etc. because they undersell the competition. That is a possible direction the government can go if the court rules that these Hutterites are ordered to carry worker's compensation insurance.
- daves
  
  Sounds like Socialism to me.
  - keyboardshark
    
    You're confusing charity, which is a voluntary giving, with socialism, which is forced giving.
Buck

Those a–h–es in the ACLU should be concerned about freedom of religion instead of their phoney " separation of church and state " scam .
- daves
  
  The only religious exemption from Obamacare if for these types of people who think that insurance is gambling and a sin.
  - JoJo
    
    That would be the muslims. They also don't have to buy auto insurance either since insurance is gambling. Sure makes me feel good knowing that my insurance company has once again jacked up the cost of my policy because of this.
    - daves
      
      So far only Christian factions have applied for and received this exemption. Who told you Muslims don't have to buy car insurance?
Evermyrtle

What the Amish, the Mennonites and the Hutterite colony are trying do is to make a living and to live according their convictions. The governments aim is, is control. to take away the liberties of them as well as our liberties as well. Whether they speak English among themselves or not is not the business of the government or the rest of us. They should know the English language well enough to be able to communicate with the English speaking people if needed.. None of them try to force us, to live according to their beliefs and we should honor them in the same way. They, nor the rest of us should be forced to buy insurance or anything else we do not choose to.buy. My opinion is if we leave them alone, they will leave us alone. I 100% believe they should not be plagued with Obamacare just as I think the rest of us should should be allowed to buy what we think is best for us, or nothing if that is our choice.
- daves
  
  I agree mostly – I would much rather see Universal Healthcare than a requirement to purchase healthcare. We have a moral obligation take care of the least among us.
  
  I don't care if people don't speak English in the U.S.
  - Eric
    
    And who is going to pay for this "universal healthcare"? Do you seriously see no conflict with forcing everyone to pay for this "moral obligation," while at the same time claiming that all women should have the right to choose what to do with their own bodies? Why does "the least among us" not include unborn babies in your convoluted religion of political expediency?
    - Penny
      
      Do you have insurance? Have you broken an arm?
      
      Broke my arm in the U.S., no insurance (minimum wage job with no benefits): spent hours in urgent care, no one would even talk to me and get me up to speed about when I would be seen, nothing. Set me back a few months of rent money, too.
      
      My brother sprained his ankle (initially thought it was broken) while he was hiking in Sweden: in and out in under an hour, at no cost to him.
      
      Honestly, I'd rather pay taxes out my butt than have a broken bone financially destroy me. You Christians are all about charity until you actually have to be charitable.
      - Eric
        
        "Do you have insurance?" Yes.
        
        "Have you broken an arm?" No. But unlike you, I've paid thousands of dollars in insurance premiums over the years in case I do.
        
        "Set me back a few months of rent money, too." Indeed. Health care is expensive.
        
        "at no cost to him." To him perhaps, but it was at a cost to someone. You do understand this, right?
        
        "I'd rather pay taxes out my butt than have a broken bone financially destroy me." So then you'd rather be financially destroyed by taxes? Why not pay for your own healthcare instead? Why should everyone else in the taxpaying public be responsible (and financially destroyed) for your broken arm?
        
        "You Christians are all about charity until you actually have to be charitable." Wrong again. Charity is an old word for love. I have no problem being charitable. In fact, I'm commanded to be charitable by my Lord. However, why is it that I am expected to be diligent and work hard and provide for my own family in addition to yours? Did you bother going by your church and asking for help with your broken arm bill? You do belong to a church, right? That IS why you expect Christians to pay for your broken arm, right? If I showed up at your front door with an urgent care bill and asked you to pay it, would you? Of course not. But how is the situation any better when you add government bureaucracy to the mix? Charity should come through individuals and the church, not the civil government. At our church, we take care of each other (in this case financially) through our benevolence fund. Maybe you should have asked some of your atheist friends to contribute to your bill. I'm sure they have a benevolence fund set up for just such an occasion.
      - daves
        
        The U.S. spends way more on healthcare than any nation with universal care. And the results are not as good.
      - Sonny Magoo
        
        You no doubt, would have all of us turn our firearms and swords over to the govt in the name of peace.
        if a liberal told you that by purchasing the Brooklyn bridge the world would be better, you would be getting ready to hand it over. These people in these european countries know not of the freedom we have here. That is why THIS is America, not Svvveeden.
      - Evermyrtle
        
        Somebody, somewhere payed for it!!!
    - Evermyrtle
      
      We will par through the nose. I hope Daves gets to pay his share and all the other liberals that promote it. They should be the first payers up at bat, I mean to pay their good share..
http://twitter.com/lambsev11 @lambsev11

These folks are some of the most succesful farmers in the USA and Canada. Why bother them? Greed yes and envy. May God protect them from all harm in Jesus NAME !!! AMEN and Amen.