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(Florida) Family Faces ($250 per day) Fines for Hosting Bible Study
Fox News ^ | September 17, 2012 | Todd Starnes

Posted on 09/18/2012 5:34:05 AM PDT by Zakeet

A Florida family is facing fines for hosting a weekly Bible study in their home – an act that city officials argue violates zoning codes.

Shane and Marlen Roessiger, of Venice, Fla. are facing a $250 per day fine for hosting Friday night prayer and Bible study gatherings that are attended by as many as 10 people.

“It is difficult to understand how it is illegal to have a prayer meeting on Friday night with a half dozen people but it is alright if I invited the same group on Monday evening to watch Monday night Football,” Roessiger said.

The Roessigers are also facing a fine for putting a small sign in their front yard that reads: “Need Prayer (941) 484-4915.”

“It’s a weekly Bible study,” said Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute. “It’s the same kind of Bible study that occurs in households across America.”

[Snip]

Pam Johnson, a spokesperson for the city of Venice, sent a statement to Fox News defending their actions and noting that the cases against the Roessigers have been continued.

“The Code Enforcement Board has continued both cases, although Mr. Roessiger was found guilty a few months ago of zoning violation (as it relates to land use),” Johnson said. “It has not been determined at this time if the use violation has been abated. No determination of guilt has been made for the sign issue because the case is continued.”

Johnson confirmed that the two cases involve a code infraction regarding the use of a sign and a zoning infraction regarding using their home as a ‘house of worship.’

(Excerpt) Read more at radio.foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: christian; florida; oppression; religion
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To: ne1410s

I think he meant the “kill Jesus” sign


21 posted on 09/18/2012 7:25:20 AM PDT by cport (How can political capital be spent on a bunch of ingrates)
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To: cport

oops - got it. I agree with that.
Thanks.


22 posted on 09/18/2012 7:30:04 AM PDT by ne1410s ("We will not tolerate your intolerance!!!" ...huh?)
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To: Zakeet
Oh, Oh, can I riot? Set fires? Scream and holler? Throw rocks. Attack an embassy?
23 posted on 09/18/2012 7:47:34 AM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar
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To: ne1410s

Not that sign! The sign posted in this thread.


24 posted on 09/18/2012 8:21:33 AM PDT by Focault's Pendulum (Obama A man without an American mission.)
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To: cport
I think he meant the “kill Jesus” sign

Yep.

25 posted on 09/18/2012 8:22:43 AM PDT by Focault's Pendulum (Obama A man without an American mission.)
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To: procrustes
How else are Shane and Marlene supposed to finance their trips to Nicaragua?

Preaching, healing, “laying on of hands” right next to your house on a regular basis. Who wouldn't’t be up for that?


Is it anyone’s business if neighbors go on mission trips to Nicaragua or practice healing in Christianity in their lives? No it's not. Neighbors may choose to ignore them (not associate with them) because they are Christians, but most people don't give a crap what others think of them when it comes to worship or not worshiping God. Fortunately, we have the right to associate with who we want to associate with.(Except for the gaystopo and atheists - everyone must celebrate and associate with the slut and butt action lifestyle and not speak of God. :))

The golden rule still applies in a constitutional Republic: Treat others the way you would want to be treated. Everybody. The freedom of association makes it easy to do. People take the inventory of faults within neighbors better than they analyze their own faults these days. It's the pattern of liberalism - upside down and weird to oppress politically incorrect others. It's killing our freedoms and good will for one another.

I can imagine a commie Dem neighbor having a conniption fit because I held a series of large meetings here to launch and organize and appoint leaders for a Tea Party group. Fortunately, I only have two liberal neighbors and they are not litigious (”activist”); nitpicking zoning issues. They don't have anyone in power to listen to their oppressive zoning law schemes. But they would if they could.

They host Democrap election “meet the candidate” meetings in their homes. I don't bother them even though I could dream up some offense if I lived like I was a communist or nazi (democrap). I'm, culturally, an American-American so I would not dream of using my power to harm their freedom. I would not want that done to them. Even though they are totally icky. :)

26 posted on 09/18/2012 10:39:10 AM PDT by SaraJohnson
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To: sickoflibs

meet in the-same place less formally. like the boy Scouts do.”””

When I was growing up- Boy Scouts——Girl Scouts-—4 H——Future Farmers of America (FFA) -—even cheerleading squads met in private homes in numbers larger than 10 on a VERY regular basis.

I find it hard to even begin to understand where that AMERICA disappeared to.


27 posted on 09/18/2012 10:59:11 AM PDT by ridesthemiles
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To: ridesthemiles
RE :”When I was growing up- Boy Scouts——Girl Scouts-—4 H——Future Farmers of America (FFA) -—even cheerleading squads met in private homes in numbers larger than 10 on a VERY regular basis

I was pointing out that Boy Scout meetings probably wouldn't have attracted attention unless you posted a permanent sign on your lawn “Boy Scout Troop XXX weekly Meeting here” with the day and time on it.

Another tip : get along with your neighbors so they dont complain about you.

I wonder what the parking situation is like there.

28 posted on 09/18/2012 11:09:38 AM PDT by sickoflibs (Romney is still a liberal. Just watch him. (Obama-ney Care ))
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To: ridesthemiles
RE :”I find it hard to even begin to understand where that AMERICA disappeared to.

Here :

1) Massive immigration from 3rd world nations by people who have no understanding of a free Republic and economy.

2) Big Mommy gubment saves the day

29 posted on 09/18/2012 11:18:41 AM PDT by sickoflibs (Romney is still a liberal. Just watch him. (Obama-ney Care ))
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To: sickoflibs

Christians need to be good neighbors too.

This could go either way, depending.


30 posted on 09/18/2012 1:00:13 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Imagine how bad these global protests would be, if Obama hadn't won us so many new friends.)
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To: DoughtyOne

Sucking up to your neighbors never hurts.


31 posted on 09/18/2012 1:07:07 PM PDT by sickoflibs (Romney is still a liberal. Just watch him. (Obama-ney Care ))
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To: sickoflibs

As a general rule, I’d phrase it different, but you’re right.


32 posted on 09/18/2012 1:15:17 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Imagine how bad these global protests would be, if Obama hadn't won us so many new friends.)
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To: sickoflibs; DoughtyOne

” I wonder what the parking situation is like there. “

That might well be the problem, even though 10 people is not that many. They could either carpool, or shoot the neighbor for complaining. Carpooling is probably better.


33 posted on 09/18/2012 4:05:26 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (God, family, country, mom, apple pie, the girl next door and a Ford F250 to pull my boat.)
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To: sickoflibs; pgkdan; AppyPappy

>> “Probably any other public meeting signs in front of home residences.
What they do this for is they don’t want a church opening in a public residence, or perhaps a school. They could remove the sign and meet in the-same place less formally. like the boy Scouts do.” <<

.
Sicko, show us the invisible ink in the first amendment that excludes signs from its protection.

“the free exercise thereof”

Missed that clause, huh?


34 posted on 09/18/2012 4:20:22 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: editor-surveyor
RE :”Sicko, show us the invisible ink in the first amendment that excludes signs from its protection.

Wow scurvey, you would make a GREAT jailhouse lawyer. Try doing your daily business on your front lawn (as opposed to in pings to me) and see how far your legal theory gets you.

35 posted on 09/18/2012 7:46:17 PM PDT by sickoflibs (Romney is still a liberal. Just watch him. (Obama-ney Care ))
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To: sickoflibs

IOW, you have nothing as all of us have already perceived.

You tyranny lovers, and Christ haters are getting to be a real drag.


36 posted on 09/18/2012 8:58:54 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: editor-surveyor
RE :”IOW, you have nothing as all of us have already perceived. You tyranny lovers, and Christ haters are getting to be a real drag.

Sounds like your Mom taught you that you are the center of the universe. I bet you cant imagine why you find your front lawn filled with dog poop every morning with that attitude.

Don't even try to turn the house next to me into your Mosque because I will be the first to call to complain.

37 posted on 09/18/2012 9:06:22 PM PDT by sickoflibs (Romney is still a liberal. Just watch him. (Obama-ney Care ))
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To: sickoflibs

We have your number Sicko, no surprise that you are leading the charge against Christ, and our founding values.

It wouldn’t surprise me if you were the neighbor that is giving this guy the grief.


38 posted on 09/18/2012 9:21:28 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: editor-surveyor
RE :”We have your number Sicko, no surprise that you are leading the charge against Christ, and our founding values.

We?? You mean that gang of suckers who swore that you-know-who was running and would beat Obama in a landslide two months from now?
Most of them have the common sense to behave themselves after that that fiasco.

39 posted on 09/18/2012 9:30:12 PM PDT by sickoflibs (Romney is still a liberal. Just watch him. (Obama-ney Care ))
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To: editor-surveyor
RE :”We have your number

We?? You better look behind you coward because the friends you were counting on took off.

I bet as a kid (???) you used to start fights and get whipped then cry that you were getting your Mom to fight for you.

40 posted on 09/18/2012 9:44:02 PM PDT by sickoflibs (Romney is still a liberal. Just watch him. (Obama-ney Care ))
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