This two-part documentary just became available streaming on Peacock, running just under two hours total.
It focuses sequentially on several women in several states with substantial Amish communities. Each of these women are either victims of child sexual abuse growing up, or the mother of children who have suffered sexual abuse within the family. Most are victims of their own older brothers but in some cases their own fathers or church leaders.
The documentary seems to suggest that sexual abuse of children is very common in various Amish communities. Whether it is or not more common than the rest of society, the fact that leaders always want to cover it up is distressing. It is a CRIME, it should never be covered up. Maybe if every offender went to jail then it would stop.
The film explains the church attitude that (1) men and boys past puberty have strong sexual desires and (2) if they act on them but later express remorse then they are forgiven with no need for additional action. Further if victims, or the mother of victims, contact the police with a complaint then they will be expelled from the community, excommunicated from the church, while the abuser gets the benefit of the doubt and support from the community. That is just so messed up.
The documentary does also cover some cases where the abuser was reported and how the legal punishment played out but the Amish attitude needs to be changed. If not voluntarily then forceably.
Those interviewed and the producers of the documentary hope this will serve to begin a movement to expose the sins of the Amish, and they compare it to such movements as the Civil Rights movement. Time will tell if it works out that way.
I found this to be a totally absorbing documentary, a glimpse into a culture with its own unique rules, a culture few of us ever have a glimpse of.