Couple Ordered To Stop Bible Study In Their Own Home By Local Govt.

[Baby Arm!]

Guess their county government never heard of the First Amendment.

Link

"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."

[UNTflyer]

I'm always skeptical of these stories. There's probably some small fact being left out... like "a few friends" may mean there are 50 cars parked along the street.

[Baby Arm!]

I'm always skeptical of these stories. There's probably some small fact being left out... like "a few friends" may mean there are 50 cars parked along the street.

According to WND the crowd was about 15 people.

"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."

WND

[Guest JohnDenver]

So crazy that this is about the "non-Christian" trying to oppress the freedom of practicing religion. If this happened every week, and I was the neighbor that frequently had my parking spots taken on the street (here in OKC, we are 'guaranteed' the two immediate spots in front of our houses), I would end up calling the local govt to give them warning. If it happened a lot, I would call a lot. Then they would come to the conclusion that some large assembly was taking place and should be in a zoned property.

Kind of like that "Cherry Pit" club that was going down in Dallas for all those years... They were claiming it wasn't really a club, so it didn't have to be zoned that way. Then the feds came in and busted it up. What happened to freedom of speech!?1 What about those that have super bowl parties!?1

In an interview on Fox an Friends today, the couple said they have a 25,000 sqft church a couple miles away. Ok, use it. You want dinner? I bet they have a large kitchen there.

There has to be more to this story. It certainly can't be about SD govt hating God.

[emmitt01]

I heard President Obama sent the San Diego government there personally as part of his "Ruin To the American Infidels" master plan.

[drex]

About twenty five years ago the Mayor of Denton had the police interupt a women's tea party to move their cars from in front of the Mayor's house. History repeats itself.

[oldguystudent]

Now had it been a Muslim prayer meeting of wise Latina women, the federal government would have descended from the sky to present them with presidential medals.

[UNTFan23]

How did the city know this is a "religious assembly" to begin with? Because it's the Pastor's house?

[eulessismore]

Now had it been a Muslim prayer meeting of wise Latina women, the federal government would have descended from the sky to present them with presidential medals.

That's the cultural anomaly I've seen here in this multicultural oasis we call Euless that I have found rather surprising; although the Tongans with the pinata at their kid's birthday party also seemed odd; granted the Tongan family did have Latina guests. All this takes place in a City of Euless Park next to where I live. I don't find any of that troubling. As a white dude, I do find it troubling that the scariest people to me around this are white folks who appear to have been using meth long enough for it to have wrecked their bodies.

Local governments can legally work with those of different cultural and religious beliefs , such as they have done here in Euless, to craft compromises with some of our immigrant groups. I was skeptical of the compromise offered to the Santeria folks to allow the killing of chickens rather than goats here in town, as part of their animal sacrifice ritual; last I heard, the Santerians (sp?) were taking the City to court anyway.

It's like Captain said in "Cool Hand Luke"; "some people you just can't reach".

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

I'm always skeptical of these stories. There's probably some small fact being left out... like "a few friends" may mean there are 50 cars parked along the street.

---Yep... me too... I hear about schools that won't allow Bibles in them. I doubt it in most cases. The truth is I have had students when I was in public school that were nearly failing (or failing) with a Bible out instead of doing their classwork.. I've told them to put their "book" up and get to work.... and guess what... I am now accused of being anti-Christian. Give me a break.!! PS: I do go to church rather regularly.

--- The truth may be there... the whole truth isn't

[meangreendork]

Since the article is coming from WND, I give it the eye of skepticism like I would if it were from Huffington or something else like that. There's info missing...like, I don't know, a parking issue or loud noises or something.

[FirefightnRick]

As expected the county has backed off.

Rick

[meangreendork]

Good, as they should be.

[UNTflyer]

As expected the county has backed off.

Rick

Doesn't read like they are backing off, just clarifying their position.

[KingDL1]

Here is the other side.

County Official Defends Home Bible Study Citation

They said about 15 people come to the study, still seems a bit petty.

[hickoryhouse]

If all they wantedt o do was to make sure that the fire lanes were clear and that emergency vehicles could get it, then why didn't they say that in the first place!?

[KRAM1]

Another case of "overkill" by some zealous folks in "authority". Too bad...if people really do want to "solve" these really petty local issues than why not just make a call first and explain the matter and see where it goes? If I got a call from the county saying that there were "issues" with cars blocking the street in from/around my home I would try to work that out without further issue with the folks attending the function.

Why did they send the troops out???? Or, maybe the "troops" just got a little "pushy" using all that lovely "authority" they have...or maybe they were really nice and tried to explain but the homeowner was the one who got all "postal" about it and made the "mountain out of a molehill". I doubt the county is really anti-God or anti-prayer group. I do however think that often folks with real or preceived "authority" can be a little intimidating to folks at times and less than "user-friendly". Also, on the other hand...the "accused" party often goes way off the deep end in response. Would be nice to have the whole story here.

Answer probably lies somewhere in the middle. Good grief...everyone is looking for a fight these days it seems and going way overboard in the "you hurt my feelings or you dis-respected me" area. get real...chill out and work it out without making it a "federal case" and giving some media whore food for fodder!

[Censored by Laurie]

Answer probably lies somewhere in the middle.

Believe it or not...the answer almost always does.

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

Now had it been a Muslim prayer meeting of wise Latina women, the federal government would have descended from the sky to present them with presidential medals.

Post of the f'ing Century, dude!

[Baby Arm!]

All could have been avoided if the code enforcement official just said 'you need to move these cars' rather than send a letter demanding they stop hosting a religious assembly

The former is actually doing their job and resolving the issue, the latter is viewed as an attack on religious liberty.

Why do government officials always choose to do something the most difficult and cumbersome way? To think some people actually want to put them in charge of your health care?

Edited May 29, 2009 by Baby Arm!

[Mean Green 93-98]

County apologizes: no permit needed

Comments from Chuck

Edited June 4, 2009 by Mean Green 93-98

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

As expected the county has backed off.

Rick

--Rather typical reporting--Some religious guy claims it is an attack against Religion.. It was not.. It was a situation of illegal or questionable parking.. Whether it was a Bible study or a poker game... same deal.... it was all about the cars not religious persecution. . ..

---Pretty much same is true most of the time with the crazy comments about schools and religion. They are usually misrepresented.

Edited June 5, 2009 by SCREAMING EAGLE-66

[hickoryhouse]

It was my understanding that the way it was originally presented to those involved had to do with religion because they couldn't figure out how to say they wanted them to park better.

[eulessismore]

It was my understanding that the way it was originally presented to those involved had to do with religion because they couldn't figure out how to say they wanted them to park better.

Maybe the authorities could have provided them with bumper stickers such as I saw this week, saying "I park like an idiot".

[Mean Green 93-98]

--Rather typical reporting--Some religious guy claims it is an attack against Religion.. It was not.. It was a situation of illegal or questionable parking.. Whether it was a Bible study or a poker game... same deal.... it was all about the cars not religious persecution. . ..

---Pretty much same is true most of the time with the crazy comments about schools and religion. They are usually misrepresented.

You are responding to dated material, and thus you are the one engaging in misrepresentation.

To summarize, as reported by the Associated Press:

1. "In April, David Jones and his wife Mary were told they could be fined $100 to $1,000 if they didn't comply with county codes that prohibit holding religious assemblies without a major-use permit." Although a complaint may have been raised about parking, the issue was with them holding Bible studies/prayer meetings in their home.

2. The county has apologized, acknowledging that they were in the wrong. "In a letter dated Wednesday, the county's chief administrative officer Walter Ekard said the citation should never have been issued and a permit is not required."