Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Montana Rules Against Hutterites In Workman's Compensation Case

From the Havre Daily News:  A sharply divided Montana Supreme Court has ruled that forcing a Hutterite religious colony to pay workers' compensation insurance for jobs outside the commune is not an unconstitutional intrusion into religion.
The 4-3 decision upholds a 2009 law requiring religious organizations to carry workers' compensation insurance, which the Legislature passed after businesses complained they could not outbid the religious workers.
The Big Sky Colony of Hutterites in northwestern Montana sued, saying the law targeted its religion and infringed on its beliefs. Its members have no personal property and make no wages as part of their communal life, which is central to their religious beliefs, and a member can't make a claim against the colony or take money for himself without risking excommunication.
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. They are primarily agricultural producers but have expanded into construction with success because they can offer lower job bids than many private businesses.  http://www.havredailynews.com/cms/news/courthutteritesmustpayworkerscompensation.html
This is a law that smacks of religious discrimination.  Because the Hutterites refuse insurance because they view insurance as gambling- they also don't have life insurance and maybe not even health insurance(I believe that because most Amish and Mennonites also don't buy health insurance)
But now, they will be forced to buy workman's compensation insurance even though they will never use it.  If true, then of course, their insurance premiums should be fairly low.
But because big business complained, the Montana legislators and governor decided to force a religious organization to buy insurance they will never use.
And the death of America and religious freedom continue to gather steam.
(as an aside, the description of the Hutterites early in the story pretty much debunks the show, American Colony, Meet the Hutterites, as being a real and true description of life of the Hutterites.

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