San Diego (CA) County trying to stop home Bible studies

Posted June 3rd, 2009 by Matt

Ken Davis alerted me to this disturbing article.

Apparently San Diego (California) County officials have told a pastor and his wife that they must cease using their home for small Bible studies (consisting of perhaps 15 people), telling them that it was an "unlawful use of land" and they must "stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit."

Don't just brush this topic off though - it has broader implications, even if it wasn't centered around Bible studies and religion. As the article points out, "what about people who meet regularly at home for poker night? What about people who meet for Tupperware parties? What about people who are meeting to watch baseball games on a regular basis?"

The county has since backed down on the religious issues, saying that this is "a land use issue; it is not an issue of religious expression."

That doesn't close the door on the broader implications that I mentioned above, however.