Town Bans Home Bible Study

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Oct 10, 2009
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Church Fights Back After Arizona Town Bans Home Bible Study
GILBERT, Ariz. — The national Alliance Defense Fund says a town code that bars religious assemblies in private homes in the Arizona community of Gilbert is unconstitutional.

The Oasis of Truth church began meeting at Pastor Joe Sutherland's house in November and rotated homes several times a week for Bible study and fellowship.

A Gilbert code compliance officer hit the church with a violation notice after seeing a sign near a road advertising a Sunday service. A zoning administrator told the church that Bible studies, church leadership meetings and fellowship activities are not permitted in private homes.

The Alliance Defense Fund's Doug Napier says no neighbors complained. The Scottsdale-based group has filed an appeal with the town of Gilbert, contending its code violates the U.S. Constitution.
 
Church Fights Back After Arizona Town Bans Home Bible Study
GILBERT, Ariz. — The national Alliance Defense Fund says a town code that bars religious assemblies in private homes in the Arizona community of Gilbert is unconstitutional.

The Oasis of Truth church began meeting at Pastor Joe Sutherland's house in November and rotated homes several times a week for Bible study and fellowship.

A Gilbert code compliance officer hit the church with a violation notice after seeing a sign near a road advertising a Sunday service. A zoning administrator told the church that Bible studies, church leadership meetings and fellowship activities are not permitted in private homes.

The Alliance Defense Fund's Doug Napier says no neighbors complained. The Scottsdale-based group has filed an appeal with the town of Gilbert, contending its code violates the U.S. Constitution.

To which evil; the primary tactic of which is deceit; responds:

The Oasis of Truth church is just a tax dodge scam.

ROFLMNAO...













Evil...
 
It doesn't make any difference if they are studying or plotting to evade their taxes, freedom to assemble is freedom to assemble.

Meeting in private homes may have been banned because of traffic/parking concerns, but it still is not going to stand up to a court challenge.
 
Why did the neighbors complain?

And is it any of their business that people are studying the bible in their own homes?

What a bunch of crappola.
 
None of the logistics matter. The ordinance is in violation of the First Amendment. When the case gets to the High Court, they will rule in favor of the church.
 
You appear, then, to be suggesting that a local Zoning Ordinance is somehow immune to the prohibitions spelled out in the First and Fourteenth Amendment.

The question is not whether a valid zoning ordinance can apply equally to secular and non-secular "businesses."

The question is whether the Ordinance in question violates the First Amendment rights of the people to peaceably assemble, to freedom of speech and to freedom of religion.
 
I await with interest the reaction of those who think this is no big deal when local towns and cities start banning birthday parties, Christmas get togethers, poker nights, etc.
 
You appear, then, to be suggesting that a local Zoning Ordinance is somehow immune to the prohibitions spelled out in the First and Fourteenth Amendment.

The question is not whether a valid zoning ordinance can apply equally to secular and non-secular "businesses."

The question is whether the Ordinance in question violates the First Amendment rights of the people to peaceably assemble, to freedom of speech and to freedom of religion.

Like zoning that prohibits strip clubs close to churches?
Those people cannot peacably assemble because of the church proximity.
 
Church Fights Back After Arizona Town Bans Home Bible Study
GILBERT, Ariz. — The national Alliance Defense Fund says a town code that bars religious assemblies in private homes in the Arizona community of Gilbert is unconstitutional.

The Oasis of Truth church began meeting at Pastor Joe Sutherland's house in November and rotated homes several times a week for Bible study and fellowship.

A Gilbert code compliance officer hit the church with a violation notice after seeing a sign near a road advertising a Sunday service. A zoning administrator told the church that Bible studies, church leadership meetings and fellowship activities are not permitted in private homes.

The Alliance Defense Fund's Doug Napier says no neighbors complained. The Scottsdale-based group has filed an appeal with the town of Gilbert, contending its code violates the U.S. Constitution.

Where's the NAACP when they're need?

This same thing happened in the San Diego area a few years ago. They used parking ordinances to screw over those who assembled.
 

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