if the city ordinance says you can't assemble in a home to have say.. a bible study....?
because it is considered a residential place.... how can people have daycare in their homes... the arizona pastor who was arrested was arrested because he was holding regular assembly of people in his home which was a residential area.... whats the difference????
2012-07-12T15:00:36Z
Jay... that is not the reason they arrested. the reason clearly was stated it was against city ordinance. They were not allowed to assembly in his home.
2012-07-12T15:23:17Z
JAY...so if the reason was clearly that it was against city ordinance that they were not to assemble in his home, why don't they arrest baby sitters, and birthday parties, and weekly gatherers of dominoes and card players, and those who run their own business from their garage, and beauticians who work from their homes...etc etc.... why JAY...why.... hmmmm, maybe it's because the real reason is that they are Christians....
David2012-07-12T15:09:32Z
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Get a good lawyer. I read a story about this very same topic yesterday. I looked through some notes, and a few websites. What I learned is that the US Supreme Court has extended the first amendment's clauses to apply to lesser municipalities. I'm not a lawyer, but what I understand in reading this is that the establishment clause, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;", also applies to states. As I was always taught, this is not new. For a territory to become a state it must have its own constitution that does not conflict with the US Constitution and it must ratify the US Constitution as it is written, which means the state accepts the establishment clause as law, but the Gitlow v. New York, 268 U.S. 652 (1925) decision extends that clause to the lower municipalities.
I have not consulted a lawyer, but as I understand it, this ordinance can be legally challenged. I hope it can.
I heard that on Fox News today and even their commentator was adding that the city had a point. It looked like there was only one exit on that building, and no exit sign. The interior was not a home, but a real church.
I know from running my own business that there are even ordinances concerning handicapped access to doors and bathrooms that have to be strictly followed or your business can be closed down, and you get a fine as well. Imagine if there were also no exit signs! People could be trapped in a fire and not be able to see to get out.
People who have home daycares have to get licenses.
Why do Christians think they're above the law? Why is it okay for a Christian pastor to ignore 67 different zoning regulations? Are Christians just too good to have to obey the same laws everyone else has to?
Did he have the correct fire safety procedures in place? There are a million different rules you must follow to have an organised business in your home.
EDIT So you already know he broke the law and still ask the question? Stop trying to sound like some religious martyr who is being victimised and grow up.
Churches are required to obey city zoning laws. He was using his garage as a church, not just a simply bible study. The guy was arrested for ignoring 67 zoning laws, not for holding bible study.