Lancaster County, Pennsylvania is home to the largest single concentration of Amish, Old Order Mennonite, and Plain identifying communities in the world. With over 45,000 Plain citizens, these groups represent nearly 10% of the total population of the County. The counties surrounding Lancaster also have high concentrations of Plain folks.
While this lends wonderful character and a particular ambience to our region, it also comes with its own set of issues. In the past, these communities have largely been left to manage internal issues on their own, with their own hierarchies of religious authority responding to issues ranging from simple disputes, all the way to responding to criminal acts.
More recently, members of these communities have sought to have their cases and grievances, many of which are cases of child sexual abuse, heard in the established courts and legal systems of County and State governments. Safe Communities, along with other organizations have worked to respond to these needs, and have helped to initiate the Plain Communities Task Force, as well as other projects to provide help and services to these communities.
Click on the buttons below to learn more about this work.
While this lends wonderful character and a particular ambience to our region, it also comes with its own set of issues. In the past, these communities have largely been left to manage internal issues on their own, with their own hierarchies of religious authority responding to issues ranging from simple disputes, all the way to responding to criminal acts.
More recently, members of these communities have sought to have their cases and grievances, many of which are cases of child sexual abuse, heard in the established courts and legal systems of County and State governments. Safe Communities, along with other organizations have worked to respond to these needs, and have helped to initiate the Plain Communities Task Force, as well as other projects to provide help and services to these communities.
Click on the buttons below to learn more about this work.
