A couple in San Diego County, California received a notice from the county recently demanding that they "stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit."
Evidently the couple is having Bible studies in their home on a regular basis, which apparently is some sort of zoning violation. Most zoning codes allow for churches to exist within residential areas as long as they have a permit. But this requirement is really quite questionable - here's why: (1) the First Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees that "congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." (2) The First Amendment also guarantees the right to "peaceably assemble." (3) this rule, as the lawyer in the article cited above points out, does not seem to be applied for other groups who regularly meet - Tupperware parties, sports parties, poker parties, etc.
The article did not discuss whether the couple was targeted as a result of a complaint or at random. I contacted the Western Center for Law & Policy, the firm handling the couple's case, to see if they had this answer. Unfortunately Mr. Broyles, the attorney, was not available and the associate I spoke with did not know this detail.
In any event, the sporadic and seemingly biased nature of this citation will certainly be the subject of litigation, and I look forward to following it.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I look forward to following it, too. I talked with someone else about this yesterday and offered my opinion, based on the teaching in 1 Timothy 2:1-2, where Christians are taught to pray for government, not to effect the change they want, but to be able to live quietly and peaceably.
To me, being litigious does not fit that criteria. Would a Christian response be to go along with the authorities, even though you disagree, for the sake of the good reputation of the Christians? They could easily meet somewhere else.
You're right about being litigious. I don't think a lawsuit is the way to go either. On the other hand, the law is meant to be applied equally.
I think this group should do what it takes to keep the peace. If that means carpooling so they aren't taking up as many spaces, or being quieter if noise was a factor, etc.
The problem is that I have no idea why they were targeted. If you read the article, you would see that the couple was asked specifically whether they prayed, said "amen", worshiped, etc. Those kinds of questions would lead me to infer that the location, noise and parking was not the issue. Rather the issue was holding religious services within that jurisdiction in some place other than a properly permitted church building.
Post a Comment