Perhaps this is why California is failing?

[AngelinaCatHub]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,522637,00.html

Don't mock God. Daniel 5

[lrprn]

One of the local San Diego TV stations interviewed the county commissioner about this situation - http://www.10news.com/news/19595677/detail.html

The real reason the county came to the minister's home is because the prayer group gathering at the home each week was large enough that their cars were blocking other driveways and the street. The county received a complaint from one of the minister's neighbors that they had to investigate. No one was trying to stop the bible study - they were trying to figure out what was happening at the home so they could figure out which local code the problem was under so they would know how to proceed.

This entire event has been blown completely out of proportion. There is no threat to religious freedom nor the right to pray in a private home. There is no government trying to tell anyone they can't pray in their homes. Just too many parked cars on a private street and an over-reacting local official trying to stop the parking hazard and enforce the law about blocking private property and impeding emergency vehicles. No need to push the panic button and continue spreading exaggerated stories about the threat to religious freedom by the government - there is none.

[Flamingo]

All they need to do (and should have investigated prior to all this) is get the permit and keep the gathering down to a few cars in their driveway and not fill up the street. Or have all the folks gather in someone else's larger house in a rural area or have all pitch in a few bucks and rent someplace each week for a few hours.

Not on a religious line but otherwise, in a surrounding state which prohibits gambling for money/profit in one's home, someone started a weekend poker game between a few buddies which turned out to be an online invite with their wive's serving drinks topless to the attendees. You can imagine the crowd that would attend this; the neighbor's complained because of all the cars in the street not knowing what was going on but they eventually found out and the house owners hit with all sorts of charges. It's best to investigate what you can and cannot do in your state/county/home before attempting to do so.

[junker]

Just another case of Bible Thumpers exxagerating the truth

[dingdong]

They could make it a "green" bible study and have attendees walk or ride their bikes or car pool. Or have everybody park at the church and take the church van over.

Bam! Parking problem solved!

[dingdong]

California is failing cuz weeze be broke.

My daughters GATE class is having a penny drive to pay for a field trip.

You get "punished" (lose points) if you put any silver coins in the jar. One penny = 1 point. Value of the silver coins is deducted from the points. Whoever has the most points wins a little bonus prize. I suppose they want to keep the kids from raiding our real savings accounts ( the coin jar in the kitchen cabinet)! They can sabotage other classes by putting silver coins in other classes jars.

Times are tough when your saving pennies to pay for educational trips.

[JRScott]

I personally believe it is folks who are opposed to Prop 8 trying their best to get even with religious folks.

California was failing long before this though. Their problem is the same problem the Federal Government has, they have promised to many social and other programs that they cannot pay for and that people are not willing to pay. Arnold's proposal to end all welfare programs is a good one in that sense but his legislature and the people probably wouldn't stand for it.

If the person who investigated it asked the questions told in other reports then it most likely was a religious motivation at least with the investigator. A carpool would probably solve any issues, and really if they had a problem with it the neighbor should first have probably spoken to the preacher and his wife, who say they asked all the neighbors and none have said that it bothered them about the bible study. The danger here I see is that it could be extended, what if your buddies have a poker night or game night. It could easily be used to curtail pretty much any small gathering which meets together on a weekly basis.

If the permits didn't cost tens of thousands of dollars for such a small gathering I might could see it as reasonable, but as it is and being enforced it is not reasonable.

[blankslate]

I doubt it has anything to do with Prop 8. It's about having too many guests and blocking others driveways and street. Had they not done this, no one would've complained. Sounds like it was investigated beforehand for them to come up with the unlawful religious assembly charge, how else would they have known that it was bible study?

Respect your neighbors. Period.

I lived in San Diego for 11 years and the government is as corrupt as they get in our country. I don't agree with how they handled this but at the same time it was obviously a serious imposition to the neighbors that happened more than once.

[robivi3]

So junker you've accepted that it's just "another case of Bible thumpers exaggerating the truth". Have you thoroughly looked into it to see if that's the case? If it were a Gay club meeting and they came up with the same defense would you say the same?

Depends on how "religious assembly" was used by the employee. There are alot of ways to say the same thing and when said the wrong way it can ignite feelings of discriminiation.

That all being said there is a reasonable limit to the number of cars that should be able to park for any one party of any kind but until I get as much of the whole story as possible I won't comment. My son is a Chasidic Rabbi, he has his degree now so I suppose if the County denies him having Ten Men meet in his home because of the parking issue and he takes offense then junker will say "just another case of Jews exaggerating the truth". Sorry but see how offensive it sounds, and he is also a "Torah Thumper".

[blankslate]

California is failing cuz weeze be broke.

My daughters GATE class is having a penny drive to pay for a field trip.

You get "punished" (lose points) if you put any silver coins in the jar. One penny = 1 point. Value of the silver coins is deducted from the points. Whoever has the most points wins a little bonus prize. I suppose they want to keep the kids from raiding our real savings accounts ( the coin jar in the kitchen cabinet)! They can sabotage other classes by putting silver coins in other classes jars.

Times are tough when your saving pennies to pay for educational trips.

I think that's a great idea (aside from the sabotage) to raise funds. We used to do penny drives for the Make A Wish foundation all of the time. Hopefully they stick to pennies and one wealthy parent doesn't turn a $100 bill into pennies to donate. Most likely that will happen though...

[dingdong]

Yeah, it is a cute idea.

All the kids are trying to find silver dollars, but those are hard to come buy in most households. Who carries those around any more, and the gold dollar coins don't count, cuz they are gold.

I didn't realize how many pennies I had until the kiddo started scouring!

Fuund out my couch is a copper mine! Now if I could just get it to keep producing, I may be on to something!

The sabotage part is what makes it fun for them, never knew a nickle could bring so much devious pleasure

[LuciluS]

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

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.


An average of 15 people to a home for a 'weekly meeting'?? That is utterly ridiculous. Come on ya'll, take the religion out of it, although I'm a Christian.

Our neighborhood always has something going on each week where cars are lined down the street, whether, it be a Tupperware, Pampered Chef, Boy or Girl Scout Meeting etc.

Just a mile from us, a young Pastor has started a new church in his large home. I was curious about it and couldn't locate the house. A man was out washing his car about 3 houses down and told me where the church meeting was held and his exact words were "I think he is home right now, go talk to him. He is a very nice guy. I work nights, so unable to attend." I didn't stop.

My husband usually leaves on early Sun. am and our church is a long drive for me as I am disabled. I still make the drive as our members have been so kind to us while we are struggling. We have a food pantry and a clothes closet which we were told 'go get what you want'. We feel there are a plenty of others in our area who are in much more need of the services offered by our church.

Luci

[blankslate]

I do think this couple needs to take this to the court, though I'm not sure how successful they would be. The City of San Diego seems to have this idea that all of the land belongs to them and they have a right to bully the citizens in their own homes.

I don't care if it's a Bible Study or a swingers party... if they can meet peacefully in their own home without disturbing the neighbors, it's their business. To charge them with unlawful religious assembly is ridiculous.. HOWEVER, the parking issues that imposition the neighbors should definitely be addressed and it should be the same for all. Whether you're having a Tupperware Party or a study group, you need to plan for parking and tell your guests to carpool.

I can see the upset on both sides for this issue (hosts and neighbors, not the snot nosed city officials) and it has nothing to do with Prop 8 or "Bible Thumpers."

[dingdong]

Perhaps it was a fee generating issue?

Cities are looking for revenue where ever they can find it.

Drive around, look for kids birthday parties, What?, no assembly permit, whammo , instant bucks for the city.

I think they are on to something!

(Just kidding of course, but hmmmmmm?)

[junker]

the ISSUE the thumpers wanted to convey to you is they are being discriminated against because they are studying the Bible... which is not the case at all.... they are causing problems blocking other peoples driveways... and traffic...thats all. the thumpers want to make it a religous issue...and yes if your Rabbi son did the same thing i would take issue with that also...the last few times i have been screwed over was by a person specifically calling them selves a Christian.. mind you i never asked or cared about their religous beliefs.. they just voluntered as to make a point oh you can trust me "im a christian" and they all lied through their teeth... call it what it is a spade is a spade.. Catholic priests also do not make good babysitters..