Got Your Permit To Study the Bible?
by Chuck Norris
Recently a California pastor and his wife were required by San Diego County officials to obtain a permit to hold a Bible study in their home.
"What?! Is this a joke?" I wondered as I heard the news for the first time. It was no joke. Rather, it's a First Amendment nightmare and possibly a foreshadowing of what's to come.
Are you prepared for a future in which you hear, "Got your permit to study the Bible?"
On April 10 (Good Friday), a county code enfor ...
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Posted by: Alan O'Reilly
Comment: #1
Thu Jun 4, 2009 1:24 PM
From Onenewsnow: "San Diego County has rescinded its citation and apologized to a pastor who was warned that he needed a permit to hold weekly Bible studies in his home. David Jones and his wife Mary had been warned that they could be fined $100 to $1,000 if they held religious assemblies without a major use permit. Their attorney, who argued that the Jones' constitutional rights were being violated, has now released two responses he received from San Diego County officials. A letter from the county attorney rescinds the citation and says the permit is not required. In a second letter, Chief Administrative Officer Walter Ekard apologizes and assures the couple that steps are being taken so that similar religious gatherings won't be issued citations in the future." It will be interesting to see what actually happens in the future.
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Posted by: Alan O'Reilly
Comment: #2
Thu Jun 4, 2009 8:53 AM
Re: land violation, Chuck mentions this in his article. The full paragraph from the original WND item states: "The officer then warned the family to "cease and desist" the "religious assemblies" or they would face fines up to $1,000 weekly (or more). Two days later, the county delivered a citation claiming that the Joneses were guilty of "unlawful use of land," mandating them to "stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit."" However you cut it, with assemblies of 10-15 (a realistic number for home Bible studies I've attended in the UK without interference from the authorities (yet)), the notion of land violation is a mere device for the state-sponsored persecution that this incident undoubtedly was (with some lucrative revenue from a good income earner thrown in). As is said in the UK, let's call a spade a spade and not a shovel.
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Posted by: Mike C
Comment: #3
Tue Jun 2, 2009 6:25 PM
Let me start by stating that I am a christian and do attend bible studies. It would be nice if people would get their facts straight, the county was not forcing them to acquire a permit to hold the bible study it was for the land use violation. It was dealing with the amount of people generated from the bible study not the bible study itself.
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Posted by: Matt
Comment: #4
Wed Jun 3, 2009 11:44 AM
Re: Carla. Amen to that. The right to assemble peaceably is noted in the 1st Amendment to the US Constitution. There's no provision in there for allowing local governments to infringe upon that right. Period. If it's causing a nuisance to the neighborhood in some way, there are ways of addressing that. Rowdy parties aren't considered "peaceable," but a Bible study wouldn't fall under that description. Chuck is right; this is an outrage.
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Posted by: Carla
Comment: #5
Wed Jun 3, 2009 8:12 AM
Sorry, Mike, but I disagree - and I am an atheist! Any jurisdiction that uses zoning laws to restrict or prevent peaceable gatherings, whether they are prayer meetings, political fundraisers, or just plain parties, is on serious thin ice. If noise or parking becomes a problem for the neighbors, then it could be addressed under a nuisance ordinance, but otherwise, no dice. This is a clear cut infringement on constitutional rights to gather and to practice religion.
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