Pastor arrested for holding home Bible study

[katsung47]

Pastor arrested for holding home Bible study
July 11, 2012

Today, Michael Salman sits in jail following a raid on his home because the city doesn't allow people to hold private Bible studies on their own property! Fox News quoted Phoenix City Prosecutor Vicki Hall as saying, "It came down to zoning and proper permitting. Anytime you are holding a gathering of people continuously as he does, we have concerns about people being able to exit the facility properly in case there is a fire."

http://www.examiner.com/article/past...me-bible-study

[belfpala]

Oh, those crazy bible-studiers. Always setting things on fire!

(joke, by the way).

[Deleted]

So, you can't have a party in that state if you want to?

[Tokru]

So, you can't have a party in that state if you want to?

At least not on a regular basis it seems.

[zEmini]

It is just another way for the government to fish permits/money from people.

[Thelxi]

Bible>law. Oh wait

[Deleted]

Just another case of health and safety gone mad, to the point where it ignores common sense. What's next, BBQ's being made illegal because there's a risk of a fire?

[Maharishi]

Freindly reminder not to turn this into a discussion on religion.

That being said, claiming religiosity should not be a get out of jail free card for local ordinances. Though it seems like a dumb ordinance, it's probably in place to prevent large gatherings of people in residential neighborhoods. I know if my neighbor started an in home church up, and I couldn't park because of it, I'd be annoyed.

[Eldar45]

This whole world has gone friggin nuts.

[belfpala]

Just another case of health and safety gone mad, to the point where it ignores common sense. What's next, BBQ's being made illegal because there's a risk of a fire?

It's illegal to use one on a deck or balcony in some places. That seems legit, to me at least.

[Catta]

I wonder what fox news would have said had they been studying the Quran. (This isnt about religion - its about Fox News and their bias)

[Khaza-R]

So, you can't have a party in that state if you want to?

Indeed it seems rather strange. Can people not have boy/girl scout dens, book clubs, etc. without permits in Phoenix?

[Vongimi]

It is just another way for the government to fish permits/money from people.

Yeah its got nothing to do with the bible study itself per say (though that might be a plus for them), its definitely the nanny state money-grubbing city government though.

[coldfiredragon]

Read the article please people. This is more of Fox trying to blow things out of proportion.

The issue was:

"It came down to zoning and proper permitting. Anytime you are holding a gathering of people continuously as he does, we have concerns about people being able to exit the facility properly in case there is a fire."

It had nothing to do with what they were studying. I am sure if it was a bunch of Islamists studying Fox would instead be praising the heroic efforts of the police ins shutting down a possible terrorist training camp. Fox might as well be the National Enquirer.

[belfpala]

Indeed it seems rather strange. Can people not have boy/girl scout dens, book clubs, etc. without permits in Phoenix?

I guess not. Bible study groups are, ultimately, the exact same thing as a book club (just with fewer books).

[Deleted]

It's illegal to use one on a deck or balcony in some places. That seems legit, to me at least.

Aye, that's logical. Though again, it boils down (no pun intended) to the sake of common sense. I'd like to think the majority of people are sensible enough to know how to follow basic health and safety measures without laws becoming increasingly draconian.

[Son of Lothar]

I wonder what fox news would have said had they been studying the Quran. (This isnt about religion - its about Fox News and their bias)

If Fox News is so biased, then why are they the highest rated news network in television?

[Deleted]

It had nothing to do with what they were studying. I am sure if it was a bunch of Islamists studying Fox would instead be praising the heroic efforts of the police ins shutting down a possible terrorist training camp. Fox might as well be the National Enquirer.

I did read it and it still doesn't make sense. Would those authorities have concerns if i lived there and invited some people, let's say 12, everyday to play with xbox? I think not

[Xeyu]

Fine with me, in that situation, if others have to pay for a permit the church should too. "The church is the people not a building" has no weight as an argument really.

PS. Keep it civil don't bring you're belief in the thread or it will be closed.

[Bakis]

I could think of a million things to say but I will keep it short, one less nutcase in jail.