California Couple Fined $300 for Holding Home Bible Studies

Religion - US
California Couple Fined $300 for Holding Home Bible Studies

Published September 21, 2011



A southern California family has been fined for holding regular Bible studies at their home because it violates a city zoning code, The Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.

The city of San Juan Capistrano, in Orange County, fined Charles and Stephanie Fromm $300 for having as many as 50 people assembled at their home twice a week, the Times reported. City officials also warned the couple that subsequent fines could increase if they continued to host the Bible studies without obtaining a special permit.

A religious legal non-profit group, the Pacific Justice Institute (PJI), has taken up the case saying the fine was a violation of religious freedom.

A spokeswoman for the city of San Juan Capistrano stressed that local authorities were not trying to prohibit home Bible study.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/09/21/california-couple-fined-300-for-holding-home-bible-studies/#ixzz1YhTK7obZ

I'm all for Bible study but 50 people twice a week? That'd drive their neighbors batty.

They weren't fined because of the Bible Study (as the title of this thread indicates) but for the size of the gathering that violates zoning codes. They would have been fined for a meeting that size no matter what they were doing.

I would be pretty upset if any one of my neighbors had 50 people at their house twice a week, and be looking for a legal way to stop the practice.

Why be upset? Its not like it was Muslims or anything crazy like that...

why not be upset, I like peace and tranquility in my neighborhood......50 people, probably at least 30 cars, coming and going twice a week? no way!

bettr'n crack house.

A few years ago, there was a bunch of folks on Crow Hill howling about the prospects of a similar crowd of people attending Crow Hill Bible church.

The argument "but that's our religion" can only go so far.......

I don't think my neighborhood would want me having 50 people in my place twice a week.

I used to live next door to a woman who hosted a similar size group twice a week. The parking was always a nightmare on those 2 days but she encouraged carpooling and tried to maintain good contact with her neighbors so we never complained.

Sometimes people can work it out without involving the goverment.

Just one more example of how private property rights are being removed from each and every one of us by local government run amok.

If I want to have 50 people at my house - it should be my right to do so, weather it's bible study or a summer BBQ.

Local zoning codes are limiting our freedoms every day- I hope the property owners win this case- not on religious freedom grounds - but on the grounds that a city has no business telling property owners when they can have guests at their house.

How would you like to have to ask permission to have a BBQ or birthday party at your house? That's exactly what a "permit" is- permission. And the fee for that permission is called a "tax". Would it be OK for Jefferson County to tax you and require premission for you to have a BBQ or birthday party?

"We here at Jeffco will permit you to have a birthday party at your house- on your own property". I assume I already have this right- and I do not give it up for any reason- I want to reserve all my rights as a property owner.

This is bullsh**!

I tend to think that by saying that it wasn't because it actually was for Bible Study, the city is trying to avoid losing in court to a complaint relating to Religious Freedom. I, too think this is B.S.