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The People’s Republic of San Diego County Welcome to the People’s Republic of San Diego County. According to an article on HolyCoast.com, “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.” Attorney Dean Broyles of The Western Center For Law & Policy was shocked with what happened to the pastor and his wife. 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 of “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. “For churches and religious assemblies, there’s big parking concerns, there’s environmental impact concerns when you have hundreds or thousands of people gathering. But this is a different situation, and we believe that the application of the religious assembly principles to this Bible study is certainly misplaced,” said Broyles. “If the county thinks they can shut down groups of 10 or 15 Christians meeting in a home, 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 and support the Chargers?” said Broyles. What about, “This is America and not the former Soviet Union, North Korea, or China”? Perhaps the county officials are unfamiliar with the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights that says: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” Several years ago, I held a Bible study in my home. We met, sang some songs, studied the scriptures, prayed for each other, had refreshments, and went home. I received a phone call one day from someone who said that they were going to try to get the study stopped. While I am easy to get along with, that threat was not one I was about to take gracefully. I informed the caller that any such attempt would result in a federal civil rights lawsuit and that I would seek punitive damages against anyone who was a party to attempting to deny me my civil rights under the First Amendment. That pretty much ended it. It was not a bluff — I was prepared to mortgage my home, if need be, to crush that type of attempted intimidation. What is it with people these days? I do not have a right to tell my neighbor who he can have in his home or what they can do during the time they are there. Otherwise, the only football parties that would be allowed would be those supporting the University of Tennessee! There is no constitutional guarantee to have a backyard barbecue but there is a constitutional protection for the free expression of religion. Barraged by hundreds of complaints, San Diego County officials backed down several days later from their enforcement. “No one respects the right to free religious expression more than I do, and no one would find the infringement of such rights more abhorrent,” county Chief Administrative Officer Walt Ekard said in a statement. Chandra Wallar, the county’s general manager of land use and environment, said the county has re-examined the situation and decided that the Bible study doesn’t need a permit after all. But only after hundreds of complains were received. Still, we live in a different times. The Constitution is, more and more, what those in power say it is. Will we ever come to a time when Christians cannot meet freely in private homes and discuss their faith? The answer, for now, is, “Yes, it is very possible.” At least if you live in San Diego County. [Father David Epps is the founding pastor of Christ the King Church, 4881 Hwy. 34 E., Sharpsburg, GA 30277, between Peachtree City and Newnan. Services are held Sundays at 8:30 and 10 a.m. He serves as a bishop to the Diocese of the Mid-South and is also the mission pastor of Christ the King Church in Champaign, IL. He may be contacted at frepps@ctkcec.org.] login to post comments | Father David Epps's blog
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