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Two-Year-Old Bible Study for Homeless at McDonald's No Longer Welcomed
ChristianPost.com ^ | 7-15-12 | Alex Murashko

Posted on 07/16/2012 10:42:04 AM PDT by Houmatt

Christian ministry leader Dawn Martinez was told she could no longer hold the twice-a-week Bible studies she has taught for homeless people for the last two years inside a McDonald's in Camden, N.J. A night manager at the fast food restaurant told her last week that a customer had filed a complaint. Martinez wonders if it could have been because of the topic briefly discussed at one point last Monday – the Muslim faith.

The 33-year-old, who began the ministry to transients and drug addicts two years ago, describes the Bible study group's last meeting on Monday.

"It was a very powerful night. We had one woman join our prayer circle at the table and she was weeping and crying, but that was nothing unusual for our meetings," Martinez told The Christian Post. "I gave the Bible study. We talked about Isaac and Ishmael. I began to give the history on the descendants of Ishmael and the differences between the Christian and the Muslim faiths because the Muslim faith believes the descendants of Ishmael are the chosen people.

(Excerpt) Read more at christianpost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: New Jersey
KEYWORDS: bible; biblestudy; bums; camden; camdencounty; christians; hobos; homeless; mcdonalds
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To: kegger8r

“McDonald’s is fully within their right to do this.”

McDonald’s is also fully within their rights to tell that one complainant to pound sand. Whatever they decide is best for the business.


41 posted on 07/16/2012 12:57:53 PM PDT by beelzepug ("Blind obedience to arbitrary rules is a sign of mental illness")
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To: Houmatt

First Amendment stops at private property. As it was supposed to. You come into my business or home and start saying stuff I don’t agree with and you’re out the door.

The smart way to play this - and the proper way to play it - is called using LEVERAGE and if they are in the wrong, you embarrass and shame them and convince people not to patronize them unless they publicly change their policy.

But a private business does get to determine what goes on and what groups it will allow to use their facilities. Do I think there’s something coincidental about the complaint and the last meeting’s topic? Sure. And that’s where you begin the campaign to expose people to what they did and to stop patronizing the place, and letting them know why they aren’t customers anymore.


42 posted on 07/16/2012 1:00:11 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
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To: dmz
Public thread, mmmkay? I’ll comment as I please.

No, you won't. You just think you will. You have neither the right nor the authority to play watchdog in a thread that is not even yours and decide for me or anyone else who or what is relevant. If you don't like the queestions I am asking, you know what you should do? Move to another thread, not deliberately try to pick a fight with the OP, which is what you are doing.

43 posted on 07/16/2012 1:05:00 PM PDT by Houmatt (NObama in 2012!)
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To: Houmatt

You don’t have the right to come into my house whenever and wherever you want and practice your religion if I don’t want you there doing that. The same laws apply to private businesses. And you can try to practice your religion in a federal building, but they may very well remove you on an unrelated charge, disturbing the peace, if you make a nuisance of yourself while doing it.

You need to read up on the concept of private property.

Further the Federal Constitution is the operating rules and limiters on the Federal government. Not state and local governments, not private businesses, not private citizens. States have powers over areas not enumerated in the federal Constitution and thus have laws on the books on these issues the federal government does not.

Rights only extend to where they do not infringe on another person’s or group’s rights. That’s why we have courts, to determine where this line of infringement occurs.


44 posted on 07/16/2012 1:07:47 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
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To: Houmatt

Sucks to be wrong, doesn’t it? Get over it.


45 posted on 07/16/2012 1:09:26 PM PDT by beelzepug ("Blind obedience to arbitrary rules is a sign of mental illness")
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To: twister881

Sandmonkey is a racist term. “Sand People” or “Jawas” are the preferred terms.


46 posted on 07/16/2012 1:09:26 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
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To: Houmatt
You have neither the right nor the authority to play watchdog in a thread that is not even yours and decide for me or anyone else who or what is relevant.

But, according to your own "understanding" of the First Amendment, doesn't he have the right to say whatever he wants, wherever he wants. Period?

47 posted on 07/16/2012 1:10:48 PM PDT by gdani
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To: beelzepug

Am I wrong??


48 posted on 07/16/2012 1:12:13 PM PDT by Houmatt (NObama in 2012!)
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To: Houmatt

Do you think you have any First Amendment rights to post whatever you want on Free Republic?


49 posted on 07/16/2012 1:15:18 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
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To: Houmatt
Am I wrong??

Please tell us all you're really joking and that you really do understand the Bill of Rights limits the government only, not private businesses, entities, people, etc.

50 posted on 07/16/2012 1:15:47 PM PDT by gdani
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To: Houmatt

You are.


51 posted on 07/16/2012 1:16:23 PM PDT by beelzepug ("Blind obedience to arbitrary rules is a sign of mental illness")
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To: gdani; Houmatt

With his last post, I think Houmatt’s just become a McDonald’s manager.


52 posted on 07/16/2012 1:16:44 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
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To: gdani; dmz; Houmatt
Tonight we're taking a road trip to Houmatt's house to exercise our Constitutional rights in his living room. I'll bring the Slim Jims.
53 posted on 07/16/2012 1:18:58 PM PDT by JustSayNoToNannies (A free society's default policy: it's none of government's business.)
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To: Houmatt

“Perhaps you can tell me where it says in the Constitution we forfeit those rights at the threshold of Mickey D’s?”

What, do you think McDonald’s is a government entity?


54 posted on 07/16/2012 1:24:25 PM PDT by Boogieman
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To: Houmatt

You have neither the right nor the authority to play watchdog in a thread that is not even yours and decide for me or anyone else who or what is relevant.

<><><>

What happened to my first amendment rights, Houmie? Are you trying to deny my right to free speech?

Irony is a beautiful thing.


55 posted on 07/16/2012 1:27:35 PM PDT by dmz
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To: Houmatt
1) I am aware of two retail chains, Wegman's Grocery Stores and Sears, that will not play traditional Christmas music during the holiday season, even as I am certain there have been complaints. Do you agree with them?

Absolutely. If Sears wants to play Metallica 24/7, that's Sears' call. If Sears wants to play no music at all, that's Sears' call. If Sears wants to play God Bless Ye Merry Gentlemen on the 4th of July, again that's entirely up to Sears.

How could anyone even argue this? It's a freakin' private business.

56 posted on 07/16/2012 1:28:31 PM PDT by Melas (u)
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To: gdani
I want you to tell me how McDonald's can keep me from reading my Bible (which is practicing my religion) at their restaurants.

Please.

57 posted on 07/16/2012 1:29:21 PM PDT by Houmatt (NObama in 2012!)
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To: Houmatt
I want you to tell me how McDonald's can keep me from reading my Bible (which is practicing my religion) at their restaurants.

Ever hear that saying about how when you find yourself in a hole the best thing to do is stop digging?

The Bill of Rights has absolutely zero effect on McDonald's or any other private entity (/broken record)

58 posted on 07/16/2012 1:33:53 PM PDT by gdani
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To: Houmatt

Here’s my take.

If NJ is anything like Indianapolis, there are plenty of places for the “homeless” to do a bible study. And not surprisingly they are run by folks like the Salvation Army.

Now there is one rule: no booze and no dope. So a lot of the “homeless” you see on the street won’t abide by those rules.


59 posted on 07/16/2012 1:34:32 PM PDT by nascarnation (B)
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To: Houmatt
I want you to tell me how McDonald's can keep me from reading my Bible (which is practicing my religion) at their restaurants.

1. Ask you to stop or leave.
2. If 1 fails, call the police.

Glad I could clear that up for you.

60 posted on 07/16/2012 1:59:49 PM PDT by JustSayNoToNannies (A free society's default policy: it's none of government's business.)
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