The "The Graven Image Law Suit!" Story

One of many photos I have taken making sure not to get their face.

 It was an ordinary day.  Cleaning my desktop of the many photographs I have used in the past for stories and will not need again.  Some are from the five-part story I wrote on the Amish who call Lancaster County home.  I have very few photographs that show the face of an Amish person that I have taken, even though I might have displayed more in my stories.  I can remember taking only two, perhaps three, photos that show the face of my Amish subject, since I know they frown upon having their photo taken.  The Old Order Amish believe that photographs that display their faces are "graven images" and are prohibited by the biblical Second Commandment.  

Barn raising from a distance.

The Lancaster Newspaper offered an article telling about an Amish couple who have sued over photos that their faith forbids.  Seems an Amish couple with 13 children are accusing officials of violating their constitutional rights by insisting that they provide a photograph of the wife since she wants to become a U.S. citizen and it is necessary to have a photo taken to do so.  The woman is from Canada and has requested to become a permanent U.S. resident.  They won't allow themselves to be photographed "for any reason" because of their Amish beliefs.  The couple live in Indiana and have filed their complaint in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis because they have been repeatedly told they need a photograph.  The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services are named as the defendants.  Their complaint says that revealing their identity would force them to compromise their religious beliefs.  It was back in 2015 that the woman applied to become a U.S. citizen and she and her husband submitted all needed paperwork, shy of the photograph.  The only reason she would not be considered for citizenship was because she would not have a photograph taken.  

Young Amish family taken from the rear.

The couple and their attorneys tried to get congres- sional help, but to no avail.  All 13 children and the husband are U.S. citizens, but the wife is Canadian.  She could return to Canada and leave her family behind, but everyone knows that's not going to happen.  The lawsuit that their attorney filed contends that the federal government's refusal to accommodate the couple and their religious beliefs violates their First Amendment rights to free exercise of religion, free speech and the right to freedom of association, as well as their Fifth Amendment due process rights.  

Harvest season from a distance.

It seems there has never been a case such as this in the past.  But, does that mean the wife can't be a U.S. citizen?  The Old Order Amish have been a part of the history of the United States and it is well known they refuse to have their photo taken.  The Amish woman said she will provide fingerprint or iris scan, but not a full facial photograph.  She doesn't want to live the rest of her life with the fear of going to Hell because she had a graven image taken of her.  What do you think?  As for me...I know their fear of photography and think something else could be done to identify this poor woman.  I'm anxious to see what is decided!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.