Okay, so I normally am not all about suing people... **UPDATED**

[Tiger Wench]

But in this instance, I am tempted to send these folks some money to cover their legal fees...  More importantly, which of their asshole neighbors "turned them in" for OH NO!!  Being Christian in California!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHH! 

 

http://www.10news.com/news/19562217/detail.html

SAN DIEGO -- A local pastor and his wife claim they were interrogated by a San Diego County official, who then threatened them with escalating fines if they continued to hold bible studies in their home, 10News reported.

Attorney Dean Broyles of The Western Center For Law & Policy was shocked with what happened to the pastor and his wife.

Broyles said, "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.

"For churches and religious assemblies there's big parking concerns, there's environmental impact concerns when you have hundreds or thousands of people gathering. But this is a different situation, and we believe that the application of the religious assembly principles to this bible study is certainly misplaced," said Broyles.

News of the case has rapidly spread across Internet blogs and has spurred various reactions.

Broyles said his clients have asked to stay anonymous until they give the county a demand letter that states by enforcing this regulation the county is violating their First Amendment right to freely exercise their religion.

Broyles also said this case has broader implications.

"If the county thinks they can shut down groups of 10 or 15 Christians meeting in a home, what about people who meet regularly at home for poker night? What about people who meet for Tupperware parties? What about people who are meeting to watch baseball games on a regular basis and support the Chargers?" said Broyles.

Broyles and his clients plant to give the county their demand letter this week.

If the county refuses to release the pastor and his wife from obtaining the permit, they will consider a lawsuit in federal court.

[JR4AU]

Ha!  They'll win easily!  Fuckin' Kalifornia!

[Townhallsavoy]

You know, in the bible, whenever there are fucked up cities or governments that disobey God and openly persecute God's people, those places get hit with nuclear-esque disasters.  Sodom and Gomorrah comes to mind.  Locusts devouring Egyptian lands.  Noah's Ark. 

Remind me, what state is it that scientists fear could be destroyed by an earthquake? 

God's Plan - Deal with it. 

[Buzz Killington]

Maybe they should start meeting at Perez Hilton's house.

[Snaggletiger]

Can you imagine being the cop or city official who had the responsibility of telling them to stop praying, saying Amen and studying the Bible?  I'd be checking the skies for that one black cloud and bolt of lightning coming my way.  I think about that stuff every time I see where someone broke in and stole from or vandalized a church.  I'm thinkin'..even if you don't believe, you still gotta' have it in the back of your mind that, you know, breaking in to one of the 25,000 houses or businesses around the church might be a better idea....because what if?  

[JR4AU]

Can you imagine being the cop or city official who had the responsibility of telling them to stop praying, saying Amen and studying the Bible?  I'd be checking the skies for that one black cloud and bolt of lightning coming my way.  I think about that stuff every time I see where someone broke in and stole from or vandalized a church.  I'm thinkin'..even if you don't believe, you still gotta' have it in the back of your mind that, you know, breaking in to one of the 25,000 houses or businesses around the church might be a better idea....because what if?  

I recently prosecuted a guy...he would call the pastor at a church and tell him he wanted to attend but didn't have a ride...then during the service he would steal money out of lady's purses. 

[Tiger Six]

Can you imagine being the cop or city official who had the responsibility of telling them to stop praying, saying Amen and studying the Bible?  I'd be checking the skies for that one black cloud and bolt of lightning coming my way.  I think about that stuff every time I see where someone broke in and stole from or vandalized a church.  I'm thinkin'..even if you don't believe, you still gotta' have it in the back of your mind that, you know, breaking in to one of the 25,000 houses or businesses around the church might be a better idea....because what if?  

Pascal would agree with your wager.

[AUTiger1]

I recently prosecuted a guy...he would call the pastor at a church and tell him he wanted to attend but didn't have a ride...then during the service he would steal money out of lady's purses. 

Wow!  I hope he was convicted

[JR4AU]

Wow!  I hope he was convicted

Uh, I was prosecuting him.  His fate was never in doubt. 

[AWK]

You know, in the bible, whenever there are fucked up cities or governments that disobey God and openly persecute God's people, those places get hit with nuclear-esque disasters.  Sodom and Gomorrah comes to mind.  Locusts devouring Egyptian lands.  Noah's Ark. 

Remind me, what state is it that scientists fear could be destroyed by an earthquake? 

God's Plan - Deal with it. 

Are you saying God is vengeful and spiteful?

[Townhallsavoy]

Are you saying God is vengeful and spiteful?

I'm saying he could be if he wanted to be. 

[boartitz]

[Tiger Wench]

Titzie, you are one video loving fool.

[AUTiger1]

Is anyone else thinking beyond "religious rights" on this issue, such as the right to assemble peaceably?  Lawyers on board, help me out with this here, is the county coming in and telling the people that they can't have a bible study or watch a ballgame or whatever and calling it "unlawful use of land" not infringing on their 1st amendment right or am I way out in left field here?  If they were peaceably assembling.

[wesfau2]

Is anyone else thinking beyond "religious rights" on this issue, such as the right to assemble peaceably?  Lawyers on board, help me out with this here, is the county coming in and telling the people that they can't have a bible study or watch a ballgame or whatever and calling it "unlawful use of land" not infringing on their 1st amendment right or am I way out in left field here?  If they were peaceably assembling.

The city/county/etc has the right (subject to some restriction, of course) to prescribe the uses to which property can be put.  That said, I think they'll have a hard time justifying this.

[AUTiger1]

The city/county/etc has the right (subject to some restriction, of course) to prescribe the uses to which property can be put.  That said, I think they'll have a hard time justifying this.

I get that there are zones for business, residential and commercial.  I guess what I really wanted to know is can the county/city/state truly come into your home and tell you that you can't host a bible study, or party of any sort and make it stick?  I too seeing them having a hard time to justify this case, I'm just wondering what the county was/is thinking in this case. 

[AUTailgatingRules]

I get that there are zones for business, residential and commercial.  I guess what I really wanted to know is can the county/city/state truly come into your home and tell you that you can't host a bible study, or party of any sort and make it stick?  I too seeing them having a hard time to justify this case, I'm just wondering what the county was/is thinking in this case. 

I'll bet they would not be stopping these gathering if they were Black Panther, Muslim, or Scientology gatherings

[boartitz]

Could be fire code or something.
Nosy snitch neighbors.

[wesfau2]

I get that there are zones for business, residential and commercial.  I guess what I really wanted to know is can the county/city/state truly come into your home and tell you that you can't host a bible study, or party of any sort and make it stick?  I too seeing them having a hard time to justify this case, I'm just wondering what the county was/is thinking in this case.  

The "bible study" portion of it is probably incidental to the case, but makes for sensational news.  Boartitz is probably correct in that this is probably a code enforcement issue of some sort.

EDIT NOTE: After re-reading the story, the religious aspect is the crux of their case, but it does not seem to be directed specifically at Xtians.

[JR4AU]

The city/county/etc has the right (subject to some restriction, of course) to prescribe the uses to which property can be put.  That said, I think they'll have a hard time justifying this.

Agree.  Seems to me by the questioning that if they had just said, "No it's just a dinner party we have every week" that they would have left them alone.  But because it's a religious service they are restricting it.  The city/county, in my best lawyer opinion, can't justify this as a reasonable restriction.