Federal health care reform will require all Americans to carry health insurance or risk a fine.

Hundreds of Amish families are likely to be free from that requirement.

The Amish, as well as some other religious sects, are covered by a “religious conscience” exemption, which allows people with religious objections to insurance to opt out of the mandate.  It is in both the House and Senate versions of the bill, making its appearance in the final version routine unless there are last-minute objections.

The Amish generally subscribe to a community ethic that disdains government assistance. Families rely upon one another, and communities pitch in to help neighbors pay health care expenses.

Marci A. Hamilton, a professor and lawyer at Yeshiva University in New York wrote at Findlaw.com in August, “If the government can tolerate a religious exemption, then it must do so evenhandedly among religious believers with the same beliefs. This is sheer favoritism for a certain class of religions, or even for one religion.”

The first ammendment of the U.S. Constitution says:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

I think were are going to see a lawsuit here.

Amish families exempt from insurance mandate (Watertown Daily News)