Posted on 05/28/2009 7:58:23 AM PDT by OL Hickory
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
(Excerpt) Read more at 10news.com ...
Consistent with Pelousi’s speech in China, isn’t it? “Every aspect of their lives . . .”
What will it take for people to wake up and realize that “this is it”?
First they came for the Pro-Life Catholics and I did not speak out because I was not a Pro-Life or Catholic. Then they came for the Evangelical Home-Schoolers and I did not speak out because I was not an Evangelicalnor nor did I home school. Then they came for the Veterans and the Gun Owners and I did not speak out because I was not a Veteran and I did not own a gun. They kept coming and soon took away many of my neighbors and I stood by and said nothing, I only worried each time that they had come for me, but they did not. Finally there came a time when they stopped coming and I and the few neighbors who were also spared gathered to discuss how relieved we were that the troubles now seemed to be over and how lucky we were not to have been taken away. And we rejoiced that we had been spared until one neighbor pointed out: “They have no need to come for those who are obedient slaves.”
I’d like to see the parking on the public street where all those cars are presumably parking.
Like it or not, cities and counties have zoning ordinances for a reason.
If your neighbor starts generating commercial-level traffic on your street, you might begin to take action as well.
“parking.” Would the neighbors’ complaints been deemed to be legitimate if instead of holding prayer meetings, they had get-togethers for their daughter’s cheerleading team? Or for a graduation party? Or a super bowl party?
One-time or even annual events are different, and zoning ordinances see it that way as well.
If you had a neighbor holding tupperware, Amway or dildo parties EVERY NIGHT, or even once a week, on your street, you’d take notice. In those cases, the level of traffic could rise to commercial levels.
Same thing if the neighbor wanted to run a de-facto church on your block.
I see this as about zoning ordinances, not about religion.
15 people once a week and the county is protesting? At most, we are talking 15 additional cars on the street for an hour to 1.5 hours once a week.
Before I have a knee-jerk reaction, I would like to know a little more about why the county has their panties in a wad. In my old neighborhood there were always parties, sports watching parties, Bible studies, pool parties etc almost every week at various houses. It was never an issue - just a few more cars than usual. Any complaints like trash or blocked driveways were addressed and corrected. All the families talked often and informed/invited each other for planned events.
Something just doesn’t seem right about this story. And if the county guy did in fact ask those questions, that is quite disturbing. I would like to know the rationale for the religious interrogation - Why does the topic of the gathering matter if it is a parking/disturbance issue?
Maybe they should waterboard the homeowners next time. /sarcasm
IIRC, California has had a particularly long and troubled history with home-based “churches”.
People starting all sorts of sects out of their homes, which are zones as (curiously enough) “homes”.
Once a week for a few cars, not a worry for me and I’d bet most zoning ordinances agree.
As long as the mothership isn’t coming and they’re not donning track suits and eating pudding ;)
If the picture on the site is of their house, I wonder if the real issue is the neighbors complaining about the parking of 15 cars in that little cul de sac and calling the county a hundred times, or one of them has a friend in the county’s office?
Save for reply.
This is simply unconstitutional.
In our county we DON’T have zoning, and for these very reasons.
I wonder if the county sends interrogators out when people have Avon or Mary Kay, or Tupperware parties and there are extra cars on the street. I doubt it.
Parking is a separate issue from the right to assemble and the right not to be barred from practicing your religion of choice.
I think it is dangerous to let a governing body dictate what can and cannot happen on one’s property.
The attack on “those crazy Christians” is an easy one because the overwhelming majority of them are such calm civil people.
Is Holder right; have we become cowards?
In counties where I’ve lived, they do.
IF they get complaints.
Home-based businesses are only “home-based” if there isn’t commercial traffic.
That’s why Avon, Mary Kay and others don’t actually hold the parties in their own homes (if they’re smart).
I have a neighbor who’s now parking a commercial vehicle overnight on our residential streets. His next-door neighbor is inquiring with the city about this.
I’ve also seen single-family homes overrun with overly large numbers of “immigrants” of dubious documentation. Cars everywhere, loud music. One complaint brings the po-po and a lot of questions. This is yet another area of particular commonality in California.
Zoning ordinances can be a pain, but there’s a reason they got started in the first place.
It’s a double-edged sword.
It’s your property and you want to use it a certain way. Fine.
Then, you neighbor decides to install a commercial waste incinerator next door.
prohibiting the free exercise of religion...check
prohibiting the people peaceably to assemble...check
This would have been easy for the homeowner to handle. Have everyone meet at a nearby parking lot and carpool into the neighborhood in two or three cars. Put all the cars in the driveway.
Just one more reason I thank God I live out in the boonies where I don’t have to be subjected to this type of harrassment and stupidity so prevalent in cities.
Your comparison makes no sense in regard to this issue.
You have a right to freely assemble in your own home and practice your religion.
You may not have a right to clog the street with cars, which is a separate issue from the free exercise of religion in your home.
The right to religious liberty is a constitutionally protected right.
I am restricting my argument to assembly rights and religion. The Building and Use restrictions on the deed need to be followed.
Fop crying out loud, I know families that gather regularly that have 10 married kids. 18 to 25 people show up for Sunday meals.
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