San Diego Follow-Up: City Officials Say Never Mind, We Won't Fine Home Bible Studies

After causing a firestorm of contraversy, San Diego county officials have backed down trying to restrict home Bible studies:

Chandra Wallar, the county's general manager of land use and environment, said the county has re-examined the situation and decided that the Joneses don't need a permit after all.

They folded like a cheap suit after given a 24-hr deadline by the pastor's lawyer.

She said the county was not targeting the Joneses because they were exercising their religion, but rather it was trying to address parking and traffic issues.

“We've advised the pastor he has the authority to continue to hold his meetings just as he's held them,” Wallar said. “My hope is we will be able to resolve the traffic concerns.”

I don't know what was in the minds of the county officials or the neighbor that complained about the amount of cars, but it sure reeks of an anti-Christian crusade. There was no legitimate reason for them to go after the couple in this way. If there really was 30-40 cars like the neighbor complained there were, the county could of approached them for a resolution before threatening them with fines.

Instead, they used a statute meant for churches to stop the peaceful religious assembling of a few people. They could of used other statutes that referenced residential parking issues, but they had to bring their religion into it. Why would they do that other than to show contempt for their beliefs?

San Diego Follow-Up: 24-Hour Deadline Given to the Officials That Sought End to Pastor's Home Bible Study

This is a follow-up of the story that broke yesterday of the San Diego officials that threatened a pastor and his wife with fines if they did not stop holding Bible studies in their house:

Code enforcement officials in San Diego who banned a pastor and his wife from holding Bible studies in their home or face fines have taken less than 24 hours to respond to a demand letter from a legal team representing the couple in what could be a major First Amendment dispute.

And now they have a deadline to withdraw statements that lawyers believe already have created an irreparable violation of the First Amendment.

This will be very interesting to watch. We'll probably see the officials issue a half-hearted attempt at an apology, and they will back off the couple.

I'll keep ya'll posted on this story.

San Diego: Freedom of Religion Attacked, Pastor & Wife Fined For Hosting Bible Study

Apparently, San Diego county is following Sotomayor's advice of choosing which of the Bill of Rights to follow because the Constitution doesn't apply to local governments:

A local pastor and his wife claim they were interrogated by a San Diego County official, who then threatened them with escalating fines if they continued to hold Bible studies in their home, 10News reported.

When did California cease to acknoledge the freedom of religious expression and assembly?

The attorney for the pastor and his wife that were hosting the Bible study was aghast at the audacity of the of San Diego county's actions:

(Attorney Dean) Broyles said, "The county asked, 'Do you have a regular meeting in your home?' She said, 'Yes.' 'Do you say amen?' 'Yes.' 'Do you pray?' 'Yes.' 'Do you say praise the Lord?' 'Yes.'"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.

Broyles said a few days later the couple received a written warning that listed "unlawful use of land" and told them to "stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit" -- a process that could cost tens of thousands of dollars.

The county was refering to the law that was meant to pertain to churches not a small group of people. If they get away with this, what will stop them from stopping any group of 15 or more from assembling peacefully?