Posted on 09/18/2011 2:31:40 PM PDT by Just4Him
Chuck and Stephanie Fromm already have been fined $300 for holding Bible studies for their friends at their home, and they face the potential for additional fines of $500 for each study held, according to a legal team taking their case to court.
The newest conflict over Bible studies in homes in America arose in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., where city officials say city code section 9-3.301 prohibits religious organizations in residential neighborhoods without a conditional-use permit, a sometimes very expensive procedure.
The code cites "churches, temples, synagogues, monasteries, religious retreats, and other places of religious worship and other fraternal and community service organizations."
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
The cases I have a vague recollection of all involved regular gathers, sometimes more than one time a week, and involved what I think everybody would agree was a "traffic disruption" when underway.
The decision should turn on just that, traffic, occupancy limits, and similar.
From this story, there is no parking issue, and the citation was issued probably at the insistence of one jerkwad neighbor (others are supportive of Fromms) against a statute that ...
prohibits "religious, fraternal or non-profit" organizations in residential neighborhoods without a conditional-use permit. The footnote on the section says it "Includes churches, temples, synagogues, monasteries, religious retreats, and other places of religious worship and other fraternal and community service organizations."On the other hand, what they are doing presents a traffic pattern that resembles that of a small church ...
Town Bans Home Bible Studies - DailyCristo
Stephanie holds one study during the week which is attended by about 20 people, and Chuck holds one on Sundays with about 50 people.
The initial move by city officials of San Juan Capistrano was a local decision. But religious freedom is a sacred right written into the Bill of Rights. This decision is actually discriminatory in nature. No local, state or federal govt has a right to prohibit religious freedom. This is the same type of situation regarding local, state and federal infringement of the 2nd amendments RKBA. Trampling on the Constitution is what this is. Plain and simple.
They are probably doing it under the excuse of causing parking congestion.
Filthy cellar Christians! Send in SWAT, and take them to Reeducation Center 42!
It is outrageous that anyone would somehow believe that they can just, willy-nilly, have people come to their house to reinforce their own twisted antisocial mythology by “studyng” a racist, mean-spirited, intolerant, Islamophobic, homophobic, and violent “religious” book.
It is bad enough that they refuse to worship like decent people in the local Obamatorium Orgasmatron Mosque, but to deliberately undermine society and pollute their neighborhood with their hateful doctrines is intolerable in a tolerant society!
So call it a book club and tell the city regulators to get lost.
It’s upwards of 50 cars. That’s kind of a lot.
That said, I presume they are paying property taxes. Perhaps they SHOULD obtain a permit to become a church, in which case they will cease to have to pay property taxes.
Indeed, they should pay the fine and demand their money back for property taxes —— the City can’t have it both ways.
It's a good thing for the judge that I'm nowhere near California. This nonsense MUST stop.
Hey judge! Come and get me too. I've probably got more Bible books on my shelf here than you have law books; and sometimes I read them.
ML/NJ
wow. just .wow
nanny state, make room for regulo-state
They can say they’re Muslims then hold their Bible study. Who’s going to knock on their door and demand to see a Koran?
They can say they’re Muslims then hold their Bible study. Who’s going to knock on their door and demand to see a Koran?
They can say they’re Muslims then hold their Bible study. Who’s going to knock on their door and demand to see a Koran?
Starting with you: CONGRESS shall make no law...
Well, Congress didn't make this law, the California legislature did, and they are perfectly free to establish a religion or not, and to place any restrictions on religion that they see fit (as long as permitted by the California constitution).
When I went back and read the article, and read the wording, I decided that the best defense was to simply call the Bible study a book club.
I've read the Constitution, numbnuts. State sponsored religion in America! Just try it and see how far you get. The Mormon's tried it and they were slapped down more than once.
This is an issue of discrimination against religious freedom related to individuals. The US Constitution protects peoples right to worship as they see fit. If its not settled at the local level, it will go up the pecking order and might reach a vote in the USSC. I doubt it will get that far.
Someone else suggested that. Sounds like a winner.
First Amendment ping
Excellent!
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.