Posted on 09/19/2011 5:47:13 AM PDT by Beckett08
A southern California couple has been fined $300 dollars for holding Christian Bible study sessions in their home, and could face another $500 for each additional gathering.
City officials in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. say Chuck and Stephanie Fromm are in violation of municipal code 9-3.301, which prohibits “religious, fraternal or non-profit” organizations in residential neighborhoods without a permit. Stephanie hosts a Wednesday Bible study that draws about 20 attendees, and Chuck holds a Sunday service that gets about 50.
(Excerpt) Read more at theblaze.com ...
Someone needs to turn that into rallying cry.
I’m betting the permit costs big bucks for one thing. We also need to stand up for our rights. Even Paul when attacked for his faith still claimed his rights as a Roman citizen.
Parking was likely the issue though, which would be giving offense to your neighbors.
California proudly standing against both free exercise and assembly.
I’m certainly not opposed to church’s standing up for their rights. Years ago I was a member of a start-up church that found space in a warehouse to meet, rented it, and started converting it to a church. The city not only refused to permit the church, they activly tried to shut it down, because the warehouse area wasn’t zoned for churches. We took it to cout and won.
The point is though, we tried to go through the regular channels first.
I suspect most people don't mind a neighbor having an occasional get-together for some friends or fellow believers, but when a neighborhood's streets are regularly filled up with parked vehicles that cause inconvenience to the residents and hamper passage of emergency vehicles there's a problem.
This is not a parking issue. These folks have a large home and everyone parks on their property.
While I certainly agree with your premise and would not enjoy this happening in my neighborhood either the fact is constitutional rights are not trumped by someones inconvenience. This is clearly suspect if they decide to challenge it!
If that’s the case, I would love to know who tipped off the city and why.
While I am not a practicing Christian, I know more than one person who holds such sessions inside their homes.
This is totally wrong.
Who allowed that law to be passed????
Where is separation of church & state???
Having to obtain a PERMIT to practice your religion is the most slippery of slopes I can think of.
They should not bow down & “Get a Permit”.
A once or twice a year party of 40 or so is okay but watch out if anyone of us is causing any inconvenience to our neighbors.
A quote from Thomas Jefferson I believe. “Your freedom to wave your fist ends at the beginning of my nose.”
This my be an infringement if it can be proven that this is aimed at Christian groups. But laws to prevent dangerously overcrowded buildings and clogging of streets are simple common sense. Most home groups are 6-10 people. Not 20-50. That’s just being an obnoxious neighbor.
The law needs challenged to make sure this isn’t selective, but law preventing you from abusing your neighbors hardly qualifies on its own as infringing on your right to worship.
I am reading that a license for small groups of 3 or so, which is rediculous, costs a lot and is difficult to get. That sounds like a poll tax to me.
I can see them blocking turning a house into a church. There are potential safety issues and neighbors, but requiring a license for small groups and making onerous to get, that can easily be seen as attacking Christians.
Freedom of Assembly and Freedom of Religion be damned.
Sorry but your reasoning does not fit the article, this is heavy handed bureaucrats wielding power over property owners.
see #37
The size of the property might mitigate some of the parking and inconvenience issues. However, were these zoning restrictions in effect at the time of the purchase or construction of the home?
I'm all for the free exercise of one's religion, but we are also supposed to abide by the law, and that includes the zoning laws we don't like. If an aspect of the zoning law is wrong, get it changed.
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