Posted on 03/13/2010 5:21:54 AM PST by stars & stripes forever
The city of Gilbert, Ariz., has ordered a group of seven adults to stop gathering for Bible studies in a private home because such meetings are forbidden by the city's zoning codes. The issue was brought to a head when city officials wrote a letter to a pastor and his wife informing them they had 10 days to quit having the meetings in their private home. . .
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
We have any number of service organizations in my town (14,000), Kiwanis (2 chapters), Lions, Moose, Rotary, Knights, Chamber, you name it. And members are generally also associated with a church, and some, as in my Kiwanis club, are also associated with the city council, park district, whatever.
Should something like this happen in my town (which, granted, is fairly conservative), I could see an organizing of clubs to confront the issue. Word gets around quickly. And there are any number of ways to put the heat on.
Imagine that you are on a zoning board or the city council and are trying to write an ordinance to protects people from inconsiderate neighbors who want to turn their private homes into commercial or industrial businesses...
Where do you draw the line? 10 people in a bible study that meet every once in a while .. maybe ok... what about 50 people once a week? or 100 people every day?
You see the line has to be drawn somewhere, you can rightfully argue about WHERE the line should be, but to just say “freedom to assemble” justifies ANY size group meeting at your next door neighbors house as often or as late as they wish is ludicrous.
The next thing you know, the city counsel will put a 'fat tax' on church potlucks.
What is it about the Constitutionally protected "freedom of assembly" you don't understand?
And then what possible, Constitutionally credible rationale informs the prohibition such assembly, which happens to be a gathering of Christians for a Bible study?
You sound like you've been bitch-slapped by the little plutocrats running your "home-owner's association" one too many times.
Think.
FReegards!
In any case it appears they are aware that the code as established right now is under more that shakey constitutional grounds.
Clearly a double standard. Bet you dollar to donuts, a Muzzie having Jihad recruitment event in their homes would be completely OK
Screw the city council, vote everyone out.
You’re not making any sense. A Bible study group is as far from a shelter, convenience store, truck stop, or any of the other examples you give, as possible. If you want proper comparisons, try quilting club, poker party, Super Bowl party, family cookout. How about garage sale...which is in particular response to your example of ‘outdoor bazaar’.
This not only falls under the ‘freedom of Religion’ portion of the first amendment, it falls within the ‘freedom to assemble’ part as well.
Your examples are so outlandish, you seem to have a problem with people assembling peaceably. I don’t know why, nor do I care. But you clearly come across as a very private individual who is comfortable with ridiculous laws that protect you from you’re own warped idea of infringement. I’m beginning to wonder if you live in Gilbert, AZ next door to this particular Bible study group...
Horse sh**! Any law the limits how many people can come to your house is unconstitutional, I don't care what purpose they are there for. The right to peacefully assemble and the right to associate with whom you want is being hammered to death by zoning laws and other crap that is always touted as "for your own good". One to the most obnoxious statements ever uttered.
No one, and I mean no one, has the right to tell you who, or how many, can show up at your house regardless of what they are doing as long as the activity is legal.
Throw your freedom away if you want, but don't try to take mine, you will get a fight if you do.
It's that darned Lutefisk again... Nobody wants anything to do with it.
My area is very conservative. We won’t get trouble here.
I suspect the church meetings will be upheld. However, the home bible studies and leadership meetings will go down in flames.
“”The assembly activities associated with the church, including Bible studies, church leadership meetings and church fellowship activities are not permitted,” wrote Mike Milillo, the city’s senior planner.”
Using a house as a primary place of worship for an entire church is a bit different from using one’s house for bible studies or a meeting of deacons (elders, whatever you call them). I don’t think any court will uphold a ban on bible studies, provided that isn’t another name for the primary worship service of the entire congregation. Nor will any court uphold a ban on 3 people meeting for religious purposes.
I smell a DU skunk toting a strawman around.
“Would you want your neighbor to turn his home into a homeless shelter? or how about a truck stop? or maybe a convenience store? “
These are all BUSINESSES, and fall under business zoning laws. Try again.
I hope they sue and recover damages, enough to “send a message” to other towns with petty dictators.
After that, they should start parking 7 near-junker cars in the neighborhood, moving them around often enough to prevent tickets. See how the neighbors like that.
I am all for freedom, property rights, and the right to assemble, but in many cases things just are not as cut and dry as you or I would like them to be. The other people that live or own property in an area have rights too, and you have to constantly weigh the rights of everyone in a given situation.
Admittedly, in this particular case I don't see an issue (assuming the facts given in the article are correct) but that is not to say that all bible studies of any size, duration and frequency are allowed in private homes zoned residential without restriction.
Neither would we. The powers-that-be know better, IMO. Although our park board does have a dead ear at times when it comes to public input...
I guess you have minor squabbles anywhere. I moved where I am BECAUSE it was conservative. I have not been disappointed ;-)
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