“Whenever two or more of you gather in My Name, you need a $10,000 permit”
The City of San Diego says that when 10 or 15 Christians meet in a home for Bible Study that it is an unlawful use of the land and that permits costing tens of thousands of dollars are required.
“The county asked, ‘Do you have a regular meeting in your home?’ She said, ‘Yes.’ ‘Do you say amen?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Do you pray?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Do you say praise the Lord?’ ‘Yes.'”
The county employee notified the couple that the small bible study, with an average of 15 people attending, was in violation of county regulations, according to Broyles.
Broyles said a few days later the couple received a written warning that listed “unlawful use of land” and told them to “stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit” — a process that could cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Whenever the government does not like a particular behavior, someone always gets the idea that they can tax it or regulate it out of existence. Only problem is that Americans have this funny notion about the free exercise of religion. You can’t single out and prohibit Bible studies while allowing poker night, tupperware parties, meetings of the local environmental committee, or even gatherings of disgruntled divorcees. Nope, ban one and you gotta ban them all.
I would also like to remind our overreaching bureaucrat friends in San Diego that folks who cling to religion and the first amendment are also usually fond of the second amendment as well. Just sayin’.
Foxnews has covered the story.
May 28, 2009 at 4:45 pm
What ever happened to that “peaceably assemble” bit of the ol’ Fighting First Amendment?
May 28, 2009 at 5:29 pm
There are eight people in my family. If I have my family here for a family celebration, we pray and talk usually turns to Church,faith and the Bible. In this light, I would have to get a permit to have my family visit.
I just can’t believe the absurdity of the whole thing.
But, I also have to say, that given the times we are living in, when so many things have been going on to erode our Constitution, I am not surprised that the County of San Diego is trying to pull this off.
May 28, 2009 at 5:54 pm
The first thought I had was when did United States turn into China? Granted in China you are arrested and not fined but isn’t the concept still the same?
Not that any of this surprises me coming out of California. They have been trying to be like Europe and Asia for years now so why stop now?
May 28, 2009 at 10:30 pm
I don’t think threatening guns in this situation is necessary at the point. We need to be threatening lawyers. There needs to be documentation of the Tupperware parties.
I mean, who are you going to shoot, the poor policeman with 3 kids who is sent to the door by his boss?
Susan Peterson
May 28, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Who threatened guns? It’s a point to make that even Obama said… “clinging to GUNS and religion”. Therefore it stands to be a logical conclusion that many “religious” folk also like their guns.
I think it’s insane that they can’t have a bible study without being harassed by this warning.
May 28, 2009 at 11:57 pm
From a local TV link:
http://www.10news.com/news/19585458/detail.html
“A local pastor said the County has cited him for hosting a weekly Bible study in his home. The County said visitors who drive to those meetings are affecting traffic in the neighborhood.”
“Jones said a visitor to a neighbor’s house called the County after a Bible study member hit the visitor’s car while leaving. Shortly after, a county code enforcement officer gave him a citation that said he needed a permit to host the weekly Bible study meetings, he said.”
Just a neighborhood dust-up, not a government assault on Bible study.
May 29, 2009 at 7:40 am
OK, so you start ticketing the people driving there if they’re violating traffic laws or hitting other cars or whatever. But to fine the pastor for having a Bible study because people attending are affecting traffic? That just doesn’t seem right.
May 30, 2009 at 7:27 am
Could the city of San Diego be seeing this not as a regulation of speech, but as a attempt to get revenue for the city?
Face it, because of the economy building permits are down and city gummints are looking to make a buck anywhere they can.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s disgusting. And if Tampa FL started doing this then I’m busted every other Sunday night.