Well said. I don't think we (who aren't Amish) are qualified to say in here what they would or wouldn't do based on their religious beliefs. Remember, too...pacifism does not necessarily equate to passivity concerning evil--they were quick to notify authorities when their children went missing.
Also, the State will pursue a crime committed against these girls, regardless of family's willingness to openly testify. There are many ways to handle crimes against children that will afford them the privacy they deserve. I think we probably need to remember that media are throwing around terms like "sexual assault" and "abuse" without knowing at this point what precisely happened--those terms encompass a large range of behaviors. As far as I know, sexual assault can be as simple as kissing or touching someone who doesn't want that overture (correct me if I'm wrong here, legal people). So it's probably wise not to try to speculate on details, here. That the girls (one only 7 years old) were checked out at the hospital and released in "fine" condition is all the reassurance I need.
I am not speculating about the investigation. I'm not claiming to know anything abut this investigation. I was saying that we shouldn't assume the community wouldn't accept them. That's for ANY victim of sexual abuse. It's a general statement. I am only saying in MY experience with Amish people, they would not do that...and they are very aware of this situation. So, in MY experience we should not assume that these girls will be unaccepted, if they were the victims of sexual abuse. I am not saying anyone is qualified. I am saying we shouldn't assume, because we are NOT qualified.