Couple Told Not to have Bible Study...in CA

[Jooser]

Here we go, so much for religious tolerance in the good 'ol USA. This is taking place in San Diego right now, and it could have an impact on everyone who wishes to worship God at home. Isn't this close to you out there, DJ? It's scary folks, just scary.

[url="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,522637,00.html"]http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,522637,00.html[/url]

Couple Ordered to Stop Holding Bible Study at Home Without Permit

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Pastor David Jones and his wife Mary have been told that they cannot invite friends to their San Diego, Calif. home for a Bible study — unless they are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars to San Diego County.

"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.

For David and Mary Jones, it's about more than a question of money.

"The government may not prohibit the free exercise of religion," Broyles told FOX News. "I believe that our Founding Fathers would roll over in their grave if they saw that here in the year 2009, a pastor and his wife are being told that they cannot hold a simple Bible study in their own home."

"The implications are great because it’s not only us that’s involved," Mary Jones said. "There are thousands and thousands of Bible studies that are held all across the country. What we’re interested in is setting a precedent here — before it goes any further — and that we have it settled for the future."

The couple is planning to dispute the county's order this week.

If San Diego County refuses to allow the pastor and his wife to continue gathering without acquiring a permit, they will consider a lawsuit in federal court.

[snarky]

Outrageous. No different than a book club. (Except there's only one book).

[stlrz d]

I saw this story a while back. It appears some neighbor complained about the lack of parking spaces and traffic that's really what the dispute is about.

The major use permit is the guy's way of getting them to stop legally...unless they pay.

Just keep in mind, things aren't always what they seem on the surface. I don't think the neighbor who complained gives a flying fig that they were having a bible study...he just wanted a parking space and didn't want the traffic effed up in his neighborhood.

[url="http://www.10news.com/news/19585458/detail.html"]http://www.10news.com/news/19585458/detail.html[/url]

BONITA, Calif. -- 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.

Pastor David Jones has been hosting weekly Bible studies at his Bonita home during the past five years. About 15 people attend the meetings, he told 10News.

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.

Jones and his attorneys sid he shouldn't have to get a permit for what he does inside his house. "We think it is clearly permissible. We think this is a violation of our constitutional rights," Jones told 10News.

A County spokeswoman says the County is concerned with parking and its impact on the neighborhood.

The two sides met Wednesday but resolved nothing.

Jones said they're scheduled to meet again on June 9.

Anytime you see a story on Fox's website you should always google the topic and check other sources.

[Jooser]

I have neighbors who party all the time. They have their drunken friends parked all over the neighborhood. When we complain to the police, they say everything's fine as long as they allow room for traffic to flow through here. So, I guess my point is, how constitutional is it for a county to demand a permit for people to gather socially, no matter what the circumstance? The fact of the matter is, these people aren't really breaking any rules. They have the right to assemble peacefully and worship the God of their choosing. If they are parking in someone's driveway or blocking the way, why can't they just be told to move out of the way. See, problem solved. Or, does their neighbor have it out for them because they are having a bible study? It's anybody's guess. The county, though, is over stepping it's bounds here. It's like dropping a nuke on an ant hill. It's a minor annoyance to someone, and it all needs to be shot down?

Fox News, by the way, is no more agenda driven than CNN or any other news network.

[stlrz d]

I have neighbors who party all the time. They have their drunken friends parked all over the neighborhood. When we complain to the police, they say everything's fine as long as they allow room for traffic to flow through here. So, I guess my point is, how constitutional is it for a county to demand a permit for people to gather socially, no matter what the circumstance? The fact of the matter is, these people aren't really breaking any rules. They have the right to assemble peacefully and worship the God of their choosing. If they are parking in someone's driveway or blocking the way, why can't they just be told to move out of the way. See, problem solved. Or, does their neighbor have it out for them because they are having a bible study? It's anybody's guess. The county, though, is over stepping it's bounds here. It's like dropping a nuke on an ant hill. It's a minor annoyance to someone, and it all needs to be shot down?

Fox News, by the way, is no more agenda driven than CNN or any other news network.

Dude, Faux News is the absolute worst. I'm not saying other sources don't resort to only telling part of the story either, but Faux News takes the cake. Did you ever see the story on them altering photos of a reporter and editor who published an unfavorable story about their ratings trend? [url="http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2008/07/02/Report-Fox-News-altered-photos/UPI-86461215049866/"]http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2 ... 215049866/[/url] Here are the images: [url="http://photoshopnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/fox-20080702-steinberg.jpg"]http://photoshopnews.com/wp-content/upl ... inberg.jpg[/url]

Name me another reliable news source that does something like that.

As to your point, perhaps your area doesn't have the same type of permit requirements for regular gatherings? I agree with you that it's a crappy thing to do and a crappy way to do it, but my point is I highly doubt it has anything to do with religion.

The guy's been having the bible study for 5 years and this just happened now...that tells me someone is just fed up with not having a place to park, and a car being hit by one member of the bible study group was the final straw.

[Jooser]

Two Words: Dan Rather

The other liberal news organizations are very guilty of doctoring news. Did you see the way the CNN reporter treated the Tea Party people? CNN's true colors have been properly exposed for what they really are. On a day when literally hundreds of thousands of citizens took to the streets in peaceful demonstrations against this out of control spending in D.C., Fox news was the only ones giving it any coverage. If 50 people from PETA had been picketing for the fair treatment of otters in a zoo somewhere, CNN would have made it the story of the hour. MSNBC isn't any better. I guess it just depends on what side of the political spectrum that you're standing on, but why then does Fox News literally pummell to death the other news shows in the ratings EVERY DAY? I mean, Fox and Friends has a higher rating than MSNBC's prime time lineup! So, if they are the worst at news, why such high viewership?

[snarky]

D, I understand that Fox carves their stories a little bit to present them in a certain light. But I still say this is a violation of freedom of assembly. If there was a problem with code (regarding parking) why not issue a warning on the parking thing and give the guy a chance ot have people carpool (which would cut down on the parking consumed).

For me, it doesn't matter if it is a party, a book club, a bible study or a bunch of swingers: they are all entitled to freedom of assembly. And as far as I am concerned the first amendment comes first and parking comes somewhere other than first.

[snarky]

but why then does Fox News literally pummell to death the other news shows in the ratings EVERY DAY? I mean, Fox and Friends has a higher rating than MSNBC's prime time lineup! So, if they are the worst at news, why such high viewership?

argumentum ad populum

[Jooser]

but why then does Fox News literally pummell to death the other news shows in the ratings EVERY DAY? I mean, Fox and Friends has a higher rating than MSNBC's prime time lineup! So, if they are the worst at news, why such high viewership?

argumentum ad populum

Perhaps the ad populum is simply tired of liberally carved news coverage?

[snarky]

My point remains, the viewership/readership/listenership of a news outlet does not necessarily have an inverse correlation with its bias. If five more people tune in to fox today the news does not become five viewers less biased.