(http://s0b.bluestreak.com/ix.e?hr&s=8044345&n=958257610)
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FAITH UNDER FIRE
AGAIN! City orders Bible study closed
Municipal rule also says praying family could be banned 'church' meeting
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Posted: March 17, 2010
11:25 pm Eastern
By Bob Unruh
© 2010 WorldNetDaily
A southern California city has ordered a Friday night Bible study involving
about a dozen people to shut down its meetings by Good Friday or members
could face _financial_
(http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=128825#) sanctions.
Or they could apply to purchase an expensive permit from the city
government.
The new case is similar to a dispute _last week in Gilbert, Ariz.,_
(http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=128094) and another last
year
in San Diego County.
Now, in _Rancho Cucamonga,_ (http://www.ci.rancho-cucamonga.ca.us/) legal
experts defending Bible study members say the city is targeting a Bible
study for banishment, and officials say they are "not budging."
In the previous cases, San Diego County officials apologized after a code
enforcement officer tried to shut down a Bible study, and in Gilbert,
officials told WND last week they were working on a change in a zoning
requirement that had been interpreted by staff members to ban Bible studies
from
residences.
In Rancho Cucamonga, however, the city apparently is intentionally pursuing
the closure of a Bible study, according to Brad Dacus, whose _Pacific
Justice Institute_ (http://www.pacificjustice.org/) is working on the case.
"The city's stance has similarities to, but is perhaps even harsher than a
pending situation in Gilbert, Ariz., and a flare-up last year over a _home_
(http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=128825#) Bible Study in
San Diego County," his organization confirmed.
Rancho Cucamonga officials are demanding that the small home Bible study
group stop meeting – or apply to purchase a Conditional Use Permit that also
would be required for a full church operation.
Dacus said the study group has been meeting Friday nights and averages
about 15 people. Members are affiliated with Shiloh Tabernacle, which rents a
community center for Sunday services.
The city recently dispatched a letter to the _homeowner_
(http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=128825#) insisting the
study is not
allowed because it is a "church," Dacus said. In the city, churches are
required
to obtain a "Conditional Use Permit" in residential areas.
"The city has also indicated that no CUP would be granted and the
gatherings must cease by Good Friday, April 2," PJI said.
Senior Counsel Michael Peffer, who heads the organization's Southern
California office, represents the homeowner where the Bible study meets and is
contesting the orders.
"Imposing a CUP requirement on a home Bible study is manifestly absurd and
unjust," Dacus said. "I don't know of a single court in America that would
approve their actions."
His organization previously has guided churches through the CUP process,
which requires public hearings, traffic studies, architectural design reviews
and even seismic retrofits – a process that can cost hundreds of thousands
of dollars.
"We will give the city a chance to rescind its letter without litigation,
but we are fully prepared to take this as far as is necessary to defend this
Bible study group – and countless others like it," he said.
Multiple WND messages left with members of the city's building department
as well as other city officials were not returned.
Dacus said the city's stance is a significant problem because the its
definition of a church is so broad.
"According to their definition a family praying over their dinner would
qualify as a church," he told WND.
The precedent that would be created should the rule stand, he said, should
alarm religious people across the nation.
"When you step back and look at communist China, home churches are being
persecuted there. This isn't any different. And this isn't even a church,
just a Bible study, facing the same ultimatums, the same demands as in
communist China.
"Make no mistake, if we let the city of Rancho Cucamonga get away with
this, it will be a green light to every other city in the U.S," he said.
"This is no misunderstanding," he said. "In this case the city knows
exactly what they're doing, exactly what the facts are, and they're not
budging."
The city, however, has no similar restrictions for Monday night football
parties or various other events that would be held in homes, PJI pionted out.
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