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Ah yes! In the state that seems to want tolerance, it seems they are the least tolerant!
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A San Diego pastor and his wife have been told they cannot have a Bible study in their home. The couple says they were interrogated by a San Diego County official, then threatened with ever increasing fines if they refuse to stop the Bible study. (See news article here)
According to the couple's attorney, they were questioned about the Bible study. "'Do you have a regular meeting in your home?" The pastor's wife replied, "Yes." "Do you say 'amen'?" the official asked. "Yes," she replied. "Do you pray?" Again she said, "Yes." "Do you say 'praise the Lord'?" Another "Yes." The official told the pastor and his wife they were in violation of county rules.
The Bible study usually has an average of about 15 people.
A few days later they got a written warning that listed the home Bible study an "unlawful use of land." They were notified to "stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit," which could cost them thousands of dollars.
Could a small poetry club meet regularly in a home? Apparently, yes. What about a Cub Scout meeting? Evidently, yes. What if they meet regularly to watch Monday Night Football? Obviously, yes.
According to San Diego's 10News.com SAN DIEGO -- "A local pastor and his wife claim they were interrogated by a San Diego County official, who then threatened them with escalating fines if they continued to hold bible studies in their home, 10News reported.
Attorney Dean Broyles of The Western Center For Law & Policy was shocked with what happened to the pastor and his wife.
Broyles said, "The county asked, 'Do you have a regular meeting in your home?' She said, 'Yes.' 'Do you say amen?' 'Yes.' 'Do you pray?' 'Yes.' 'Do you say praise the Lord?' 'Yes.'"
The county employee notified the couple that the small bible study, with an average of 15 people attending, was in violation of county regulations, according to Broyles.
Broyles said a few days later the couple received a written warning that listed "unlawful use of land" and told them to "stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit" -- a process that could cost tens of thousands of dollars.
"For churches and religious assemblies there's big parking concerns, there's environmental impact concerns when you have hundreds or thousands of people gathering. But this is a different situation, and we believe that the application of the religious assembly principles to this bible study is certainly misplaced," said Broyles.
News of the case has rapidly spread across Internet blogs and has spurred various reactions.
Broyles said his clients have asked to stay anonymous until they give the county a demand letter that states by enforcing this regulation the county is violating their First Amendment right to freely exercise their religion.
Broyles also said this case has broader implications.
"If the county thinks they can shut down groups of 10 or 15 Christians meeting in a home, what about people who meet regularly at home for poker night? What about people who meet for Tupperware parties? What about people who are meeting to watch baseball games on a regular basis and support the Chargers?" said Broyles.
Broyles and his clients plan to give the county their demand letter this week.
If the county refuses to release the pastor and his wife from obtaining the permit, they will consider a lawsuit in federal court."
Yes! Now I see! There are "environmental impact concerns" over 15 people meeting to pray! Let's not worry about the beer bash down the street where 50 people are getting wasted and driving home! Let's concentrate on those Christians praying!
I can see this happening in the land of the 9th Circuit Court! In the land where homosexuals are allowed to march in the streets, riot and disrupt church services but a simple bible study in a private home is illegal! It's no wonder California is in such sad condition!
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Comments
I did a search for it but came up with nothing!
June 2, 2009 at 9:18 a.m.Ken, that's cool. I just don't think his post counted as trolling or bashing.
June 1, 2009 at 12:25 p.m.Fox news is not too popular with normal people!
June 1, 2009 at 12:18 p.m.Ken, Ken..."And no, I won't provide a link. You look up all the other garbage you spout, look this one up."
You know, I usually respect you and your posts. I don't agree with a lot of them, but I usually respect you. You write well and generally get your point across clearly. In this case, though, you're acting like BigJ -- and THAT is not a compliment. Making a claim and then telling someone who asks about it to look it up for themselves is petulant and beneath you. Why should the reader have to look all over hells half acre to find that of which you write?
June 1, 2009 at 11:58 a.m.Kenneth - I agree that this is wrong. It will never stand up in court. I lived in San Diego, California for a few months and I do not miss a thing about that hell hole. Tons of con artist to boot live there preying on our military recruits that graduate from MCRD.
Anyway, I am not a religious person by any means, but what happened there is not justifiable on any level.
June 1, 2009 at 11:28 a.m.Just want to interject that parking in California is waaaay different than in Texas: less room on the street, less parking places. 7 cars extra could be a nightmare for some neighborhoods.
I suspect it has something to do with a Pastor conducting "business" at his home.
June 1, 2009 at 9:15 a.m."Well San Diego is a fairly conservative city. They are not known for being that tolerant there. And I have not heard of California prisoners getting aromatherapy and foot massage. Do you have a link for that?"
I don't think that would be considered trolling or bashing. He's just asking for a link.
June 1, 2009 at 8:54 a.m.Fox news well then it must be true!
June 1, 2009 at 8:49 a.m.That's what I thought!!
June 1, 2009 at 7:37 a.m.Well San Diego is a fairly conservative city. They are not known for being that tolerant there. And I have not heard of California prisoners getting aromatherapy and foot massage. Do you have a link for that?
May 30, 2009 at 10:54 a.m.Johnny....come on down.....
May 29, 2009 at 9:35 p.m.Fact is the closer we humans live to eachother the more rules we need. I listen daily to complaints about people's neighbors. They are too loud, dogs are barking, too many cars, someone is arguing, kids are running wild, ect...
May 29, 2009 at 5:36 p.m.victorianbybirth,
Your neighbors sound like a lot of fun! Can I come over too? Heck, I'll even bring a couple bottles of something.
May 29, 2009 at 4:34 p.m.It is Government over the line. Again!!!
May 28, 2009 at 10:55 p.m.I wonder when the "leftist" will wake up. Government is out of control all across America.
Garage sale law...think it has more to do with keeping people from running a "thrift store" from there home & dodging the taxes that go along with it....not not annoying your neighbors.
May 28, 2009 at 10:48 p.m.7 cars is a large gathering that you would have issues with? My neighbors have parties every weekend with at least 7 cars. I would hate to be your neighbor.
May 28, 2009 at 10:46 p.m.Here's another part of the story:
A local pastor said the County has cited him for hosting a weekly Bible study in his home. The County said visitors who drive to those meetings are affecting traffic in the neighborhood.
Pastor David Jones has been hosting weekly Bible studies at his Bonita home during the past five years. About 15 people attend the meetings, he told 10News.
Jones said a visitor to a neighbor's house called the County after a Bible study member hit the visitor’s car while leaving. Shortly after, a county code enforcement officer gave him a citation that said he needed a permit to host the weekly Bible study meetings, he said.
http://www.10news.com/news/19585458/d...
So, it turns out that there were too many vehicles in that neighborhood every week. Even if two people per car come over, that at least 7 cars. I'm surprised it took five years for this to turn into a case. If my neighbors had that many cars around us on a regular basis, I'd have something to say about it too. It sounds like the law enforcement officer was doing his job so the neighbors didn't have to sue them.
Consider this: homeowners associations have strict rules about large regular gatherings, too. It doesn't surprise me that a county would have rules about it. Victoria allows only two garage sales a year, doesn't it? Isn't that so the neighbors aren't constantly putting up with heavy traffic, people blocking you in, etc?
The law is there. Either change the law to make this gathering legal, or set a limit to the number of people or cars who can congregate regularly.
May 28, 2009 at 10:41 p.m.I'm thinkin' that there are some San Diego officials who have NEVER read the First Amendment. If a lawsuit is filed in this case and it goes to trial, San Diego is gonna be out a LOT of money.
May 28, 2009 at 5:14 p.m.If this is true - I suspect there might be another side to the story that pastor's lawyer isn't telling - but if it is true as they say, then this is messed up.
Prepare to have book club meetings, baby showers, birthday parties, and whatever else shut down if you don't have a permit, San Diego!
May 28, 2009 at 4:52 p.m.dude, wth?
well, the link is in there, it would have been funnier if you didn't have to click on it.
May 28, 2009 at 4:20 p.m.[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v32/grim8946/dsc_0453.jpg[/IMG]
May 28, 2009 at 4:19 p.m.