Posted on 05/23/2009 3:31:25 AM PDT by Man50D
A San Diego pastor and his wife claim they were interrogated by a county official and warned they will face escalating fines if they continue to hold Bible studies in their home.
The couple, whose names are being withheld until a demand letter can be filed on their behalf, told their attorney a county government employee knocked on their door on Good Friday, asking a litany of questions about their Tuesday night Bible studies, which are attended by approximately 15 people.
"Do you have a regular weekly meeting in your home? Do you sing? Do you say 'amen'?" the official reportedly asked. "Do you say, 'Praise the Lord'?"
The pastor's wife answered yes.
She says she was then told, however, that she must stop holding "religious assemblies" until she and her husband obtain a Major Use Permit from the county, a permit that often involves traffic and environmental studies, compliance with parking and sidewalk regulations and costs that top tens of thousands of dollars.
And if they fail to pay for the MUP, the county official reportedly warned, the couple will be charged escalating fines beginning at $100, then $200, $500, $1000, "and then it will get ugly."
(Excerpt) Read more at worldnetdaily.com ...
Do you have a warrant? No? Then f**k off.
He has no idea how "ugly" it will get--for him. He has made a huge mistake by persecuting this couple. We take care of our own, as he will very soon find out as he's looking at classified ads for a new job.
There will be charges filed apparently.
It lasts 2 hours max.
Our church calls them 'small groups' and there are at least 6 throughout the community during the week.....it's an extension of bringing our members together & knowing them better---but it is not exclusive and our neighbors know they would be welcome to attend.
No one can hear us from the street --we are quiet & show respect to our neighbors.
We own our home, we have lived here 8 years and our neighbors like us and know about the Bible study.
But I can see someone moving into the neighborhood who is anti-Bible study and doing something exactly like this.
I will take this story seriously because we are in a new era of fear & retaliation, it seems.
But we will hold our Bible study (Lord willing) as long as we can.
When was the right to peaceful assembly revoked? Did I miss something?
ping
The article names a "government official". If it were a HOA, the only recourse is civil, not criminal.
But, a complaint from a neighbor can call for swift government action.
If you don't like somebody, just say you "think you saw" kiddy porn on their computer... it's a perfectly anonymous thing which is probably repeated daily!
They’ll need a lot of luck to stop people from worshiping in homes. Nobody has been able to stop it in 2000 years, no matter what kind of force they bring.
Amen. Accompanied by the business end of a shotgun to punctuate the sentiment.
Very interesting. Thanks for posting. Thanks to every poster. BTTT!
Wing Nut Daily has a tendency to conveniently omit certain details.
Well, I guess a thursday night Tupperware party will be out of the question!
I'm not selfish enough to think that the street in front of my house is my property, but I do like to think I should get first dibs on parking there. I also don't like the idea of anyone I don't know parking in front of my house. You never know what they're up to. Of course, I live in a quiet neighborhood where someone parking in front of your house is not a typical thing.
If this same couple had weekly parties for wife swapping, dope smoking or other activities not church related would there be a need for a MUP???
Yesterday evening I was talking to some people who recently moved into our neighborhood from CA. They left the San Fran area when their daughter came home from school last year and she had been told not to mention the word God in class. The mom is now homeschooling her kids.
intrep
Call the bible meetings GAY ORGIES and your rights will be protected 100%.
Photo of You WVKayaker?
Looks like the First Amendment will have to be supported by the Second.
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