Only in California

[FromTheSouth]

Fox News

Couple Ordered to Stop Holding Bible Study at Home Without Permit

Thursday, May 28, 2009

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Pastor David Jones and his wife Mary have been told that they cannot invite friends to their San Diego, Calif. home for a Bible study — unless they are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars to San Diego County.

"On Good Friday we had an employee from San Diego County come to our house, and inform us that the Bible study that we were having was a religious assembly, and in violation of the code in the county." David Jones told FOX News.

"We told them this is not really a religious assembly — this is just a Bible study with friends. We have a meal, we pray, that was all," Jones said.

A few days later, the couple received a written warning that cited "unlawful use of land," ordering them to either "stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit," the couple's attorney Dean Broyles told San Diego news station 10News.

But the major use permit could cost the Jones' thousands of dollars just to have a few friends over.

For David and Mary Jones, it's about more than a question of money.

"The government may not prohibit the free exercise of religion," Broyles told FOX News. "I believe that our Founding Fathers would roll over in their grave if they saw that here in the year 2009, a pastor and his wife are being told that they cannot hold a simple Bible study in their own home."

"The implications are great because it’s not only us that’s involved," Mary Jones said. "There are thousands and thousands of Bible studies that are held all across the country. What we’re interested in is setting a precedent here — before it goes any further — and that we have it settled for the future."

The couple is planning to dispute the county's order this week.

If San Diego County refuses to allow the pastor and his wife to continue gathering without acquiring a permit, they will consider a lawsuit in federal court.

Only in California.

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.

Obviously, the enforcement mechanism of the city is flawed. As I understand it, the complaints stemmed from cars in front of houses. Also, as I understand it, there were fewer than ten cars in front of the houses at any time. I am sure that other people on that street have had parties with multiple guests. Why is it OK for them?

This is why I feel that there is a secular agenda in this nation. It seems that God is targeted quite a bit by the PC patrol.

I am sure that the ACLU will be on top of this one, fighting for the persecuted Americans who aren't allowed to freely exercise their right to peaceably assemble and perform some basic rites of their religion.

If this gathering is a nuisance, like loud music at a party, then that laws for that issue should be applied. However, to make a point, this family is charged with unlawfully housing a place of worship. Apparently a pot luck dinner where someone says grace is now officially an entire church.

At some point, you try so hard to not promote a national religion, you turn atheism into the state sponsored belief system.

 

[HBK-aholic]

Is this real? I don't think I've ever heard something so stupid in my life. So they're stopping a few friends from praying together after having a meal? I don't understand where the problem with that is. People sure like to over-complicate things, soon you'll need a license just to pray in your own home. They're not hurting anyone and it's not like they're having huge parties with load music.

 

[SavageTaker]

I have honestly never read something as stupid as that article in my entire life.This would be a different case if it was a bunch of people having a party and getting all drunk and causing a disturbance in the neighborhood. But it's not. It's just a couple of friends getting together for a meal and a bible study. I really do not see what the problem and the big deal is with them just having a meal and a bible study. It's not like they are harming anyone in any type of way. It's just absurd that they would even want them to pay for having a little bible study.

Either these people are a bunch of morons or they have nothing better to do. I'm going to say they are both.

 

[Pimpin]

That is the dumbest shit I have ever read & those people live in the same city as I do.

Anyways I too think that this would be way different if say I was to throw a huge ass party, getting wasted & causing a loud disturbance for people who I live by would have to call the cops, but the thing is is that it's not even remotely close to a situation like that at all. It's just a couple of friends who are having a bible study with eachother while they have a meal together. It's just downright bullshit as I truly do not see what the hell the problem & big deal in having a bible study & getting their grub on at the same time really is. It ain't like they are just gonna start beating the shit out of eachother with fucking chainsaws & shit like that. It's utterly bullshit that they would even think or even wanting them to pay for having something as harmless as a bible study inside of those poor people's own home.

Either these people have way too much time on their hands, are unemployed jackoffs or are a bunch of fucking morons. I'm gonna say all of the above on this one.

 

[X]

This is why I feel that there is a secular agenda in this nation. It seems that God is targeted quite a bit by the PC patrol.

First off, I completely agree that the entire situation is ridiculious. The government should not meddle in religion, just as religion should not meddle into government decisions. Which is where I disagree with you here.

There damn well should be a secular agenda in this nation FTS, because we are a secular nation. We were founded on that principle. Yes our country was founded my a large portion of men who were Christians, but they also made it quite clear that their own personal religion should have no bearing whatsoever in the government. Men like Thomas Jefferson were notoriously secularist.

So quite frankly, I don't understand the fear of secularity.

At some point, you try so hard to not promote a national religion, you turn atheism into the state sponsored belief system.

That's just untrue. Lack of organized religion does not equal a lack of spirituality.