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Re: Fined for Bible study?
Photo via Flickr user Erwin Vogelaar

Re: Fined for Bible study?

As we've reported, the city of San Juan Capistrano has fined one couple $300 for hosting Christian Bible study groups in their own home for violating a municipal ordinance which prohibits “religious, fraternal or non-profit” organizations in residential neighborhoods without a permit. In highlighting our story in a post of her own today, Hot Air's Tina Korbe makes a couple of solid observations worth noting. She writes:

The municipal code bans a religious organization. I’d say a private Bible study hardly qualifies — it’s just a friendly gathering of like-minded folks. Would the city of San Juan Capistrano also consider a family-members-only Bible study a religious organization?

But, more broadly, why is the ban on the books in the first place? What’s wrong with religious, fraternal and non-profit organizations in a residential neighborhood?

According to The Blaze, the Fromms’ property is such that parking and noise aren’t a problem. Plus, the Bible study is meditative. But the code enforcement department relies on complaints, which means some unfriendly neighbor or other member of the community turned the Fromms in. That snitch makes Gladys Kravitz look politely respectful of privacy.

The old gal in me wants to say “an eye for an eye,” but the new gal in me thinks maybe the Fromms’ best bet would be to ask the city officials — and the snoopy neighbor — to sit in on a session or two.

Well said.

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