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San Diego Says No Bible Study at Home

May 28, 2009 by Orlando  
Filed under California, News and Opinion

A couple in San Diego, CA was fined and told to cease and desist for having a Bible study in their home.  The county of San Diego came to the home of Pastor David Jones and his wife that their weekly meetings were a violation of country law.  They were to “stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit.”  That permit costs $10,000.

As The Canada Free Press reports the Jones were asked the following:

“‘Do you have a regular meeting in your home?” The pastor’s wife replied, “Yes.” “Do you say ‘amen’?” the official asked. “Yes,” she replied. “Do you pray?” Again she said, “Yes.” “Do you say ‘praise the Lord’?” Another “Yes.” The official told the pastor and his wife they were in violation of county rules.

Fox News further reports:

“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.

The county, to date, is not backing down.  Bible studies are “religious assembly” which they feel requires a permit. Bible studies are violations of the law?  Be careful if you pray at the dinner table, the government may come for you next.

 

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  1. Religious Citizens Targeted in Alameda, CA for ‘Intolerable’ Views | Ft. Hard Knox says:
    May 29, 2009 at 8:54 am

    [...] San Diego says No Bible Study at Home [...]

    Reply


Comments

9 Responses to “San Diego Says No Bible Study at Home”
  1. Michael & Lesann McEnroe says:
    May 28, 2009 at 9:37 pm

    This is sick and appalling. We have written to the Chief Administrator of San Diego County and encourage everyone who sees that this is clear and singular discrimination against Christians to also write to the Administrator at: cao_mail@sdcounty.ca.gov.

    The County is trying to claim that this is a “parking issue”. We have asked them if they are equally enforcing parking in San Diego County with all the Quinceneros/Quinceneras parties that go on as well as the “normal” and/or college parties that go on in San Diego County. Where is our country headed? To what extent do we allow the government to decide what we can/cannot do? Are we in Russia? It is time to let these public “officials” know that we will not stand for singular discrimination against Christianity and no other religion (some of whom BOMB and KILL). Please, please write to the County administrators to let them know that this is unfair treatment, regardless of what the religion is.

    Reply
  2. Lee says:
    May 28, 2009 at 11:54 pm

    Be glad you don’t live here.

    San Diego County is one of the most backwards, repressive bureaucracies in the USA. County PR staffers are now tap-dancing like puppets on speed.

    E-mail Supervisor Chair Greg Cox at greg.cox@sdcounty.ca.gov and tell him what a great job (not!) Code Enforcement Head Pam Elias and her staff are doing or tell her yourself at Pam.Elias@sdcounty.ca.gov

    I hope this goes to court. The County is going to lose big time. Too bad the taxpayers and not the irresponsible bureaucrats will pay the costs and damages.

    Hopefully all this negative publicity will protect other citizens from further abuse by these bureaucratic zealots.

    Reply
  3. Jenn Sierra Jenn Sierra says:
    May 29, 2009 at 8:13 am

    This sounds like incidences I’ve read about in Communist China. It breaks my heart to hear it’s now happening in the U.S.A..

    Reply
  4. Victoria Chick says:
    May 30, 2009 at 3:46 pm

    I used to live and go to church in Ramona( SD County ) We had mid- week bible study at our home and went to other people’s homes for bible study. Never heard of this Draconian county regulation but it is clearly anti – constitutional. It seems this complaint was sparked by what should have been an individual insurance problem. If the person that hit the car did not leave his name and address, shame on him. Most Christians are willing to avoid offending others. If there is a parking problem, maybe they could resolve it with the neighbors by carpooling. Denying the right of assembly in a private home is not the answer San Diego County.

    Reply
  5. Patrick McCrevan says:
    June 1, 2009 at 9:13 am

    I got this email from Greg Cox of San Diego County…

    Thank you for your email. If you are e-mailing in regards to the Bible Study
    issue, I absolutely share your concern. The matter is currently being
    reviewed at the highest levels of the County. It has not yet been resolved.

    Sincerely,

    GREG COX
    Supervisor, First District

    Reply
    • Orlando Orlando says:
      June 3, 2009 at 6:04 pm

      Patrick … You should email the response you got from Greg Cox to Rick Roberts. He’s a San Diego conservative talk show host who is really following this story. He will read your email on air if you let him.

      rickroberts@kfmb.com

      Orlando

      Reply
  6. Karen says:
    June 9, 2009 at 7:48 pm

    It’s only fair to tell the “rest of the story” – here’s a link to an article that explains that the county rescinded the warning, apologized, and promised better training for their officers:

    http://www.worldnetdaily.com/?pageId=100071

    It’s good to report when something outrageous like this happens and to take action when it is still an open issue, but if we don’t also report when there is a resolution, the original incident can grow into another of those urban legends that we all get in our email mailboxes from time to time.

    Reply

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