Sep 17, 2012
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A Florida family is facing fines for hosting a weekly Bible study in their home – an act that city officials argue violates zoning codes.
Shane and Marlen Roessiger, of Venice, Fla. are facing a $250 per day fine for hosting Friday night prayer and Bible study gatherings that are attended by as many as 10 people.
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“It is difficult to understand how it is illegal to have a prayer meeting on Friday night with a half dozen people but it is alright if I invited the same group on Monday evening to watch Monday night Football,” Roessiger said.
The Roessigers are also facing a fine for putting a small sign in their front yard that reads: “Need Prayer (941) 484-4915.”
“It’s a weekly Bible study,” said Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute. “It’s the same kind of Bible study that occurs in households across America.”
The Pacific Justice Institute is representing the Roessigers as they fight back against the city’s attacks. Dacus said they are hearing of a number of assaults on home Bible studies across the nation.
“They are having a specific problem with this family solely because they are having family and friends over to read the bible and pray,” Dacus told Fox News. “That may be fine in some tyrannical parts of the world. That is not okay in the United States of America.”
Pam Johnson, a spokesperson for the city of Venice, sent a statement to Fox News defending their actions and noting that the cases against the Roessigers have been continued.
“The Code Enforcement Board has continued both cases, although Mr. Roessiger was found guilty a few months ago of zoning violation (as it relates to land use),” Johnson said. “It has not been determined at this time if the use violation has been abated. No determination of guilt has been made for the sign issue because the case is continued.”
Johnson confirmed that the two cases involve a code infraction regarding the use of a sign and a zoning infraction regarding using their home as a ‘house of worship.’
The Roessigers run a small ministry called “In Him Healing Touch Ministries.” Dacus said like many small ministries, they received mail at their home instead of renting out a post office box. He believed the city used that to build a case against the family.
Dacus said that issue has since been remedied.
“We will not stand idly by while local governments run over families for having these types of religious gatherings in the privacy of their own homes,” he said. “If cities want to fine people and drag them into court or before tribunals for having prayer meetings, we will be waiting for them.”
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They need to call Jay Sekulo …… I run a small ministry out of my home too I'd like to see the law stop me…. This is nothing less than a hate crime
zizzer has a new name he is now called MUPET.
Just sue the city. Find the meanest lawyer you can. Get an injunction to stop the city from enforcing its code. Then sue for violation of your civil rights and for emotional injuries. Ask $100 million in damages and settle for no less than $1 million. Make an example out of them. Put and end to this all across America.
I just wonder what the code enforcement people would go if about 90 percent of God's people would stop what they are doing as soon as they could at a given time and pray. Something to think about.
It is obvious that Christianety is under attack. Especially by those of the radicle Muslim faith..
What confounds me is why are so many people suupporting this and getting away with it? It appears to me that denying peoples right to express their religeon and their respect and support of their Country is protected by our Constitution. Which by the way alloys freedom of Religeon to all.
But I draw the line when people of another belief tries to surpress our belief because it offends them.
First it's crosses in a public place like a school. Then they say the mention of our God is offensive to them. Well tuff crap! This is our Coountry and our forfathers established the Constitution whichtries to acomidate other religeous beliefs. But why should we stand for people who want us to give up our beliefs and traditions to accomidate them?
It has started, something small and slowly becomes more and more. Government has taken God out of everything and now they are going after us. it will be like it is over in China, then the Middle East. I hope the Body of Y' shua is prepaired for the persacution. remember keep your eyes on Yahweh and he will keep you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4aGMP4oWiw&list=UUt-rXqO86vhokaToTMDxAWw&index=2&feature=plcp
If they were having a muslim "prayer" meetings on a big carpet, I'd bet it be perfectly lrgal and fine with the local, state, and federal goverment.
WHAT ABOUT "THEIR FREEDOM"????????
LIVED IN FLORIDA SEVERAL YEARS AND THERE ARE ALOT OF POLICING FOR SMALL THINGS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW THE LAW, CHANGE THE LAW IF NEED BE, BUT SOMETIMES IT IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF CHRISTIAN GROUPS TO BATE THE LAW. OPERATING A " MINISTRY" FROM MY HOME ( A BONIFED BUSINESS, WHERE I GET MAIL AND FOR WHICH I CLAIM A TAX DEDUCTION, MAY BE AT ODDS WITH ZONING. IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW WHAT IS ALLOWED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. BEING A GOOD CHRISTIAN ALSO REQUIRES THAT I HAVE RESPECT FOR THE LAW, THERE IS A HINT OF CODE VIOLATIONS IN THE ARTICLE SO THE STORY MAY HAVE OTHER ARMS AND LEGS. THIS IS A RUSH TO JUDGEMENT STORY, I DOn't HAVE ALL THE FACTS.
LIVED IN FLORIDA SEVERAL YEARS AND THERE ARE ALOT OF POLICING FOR SMALL THINGS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW THE LAW, CHANGE THE LAW IF NEED BE, BUT SOMETIMES IT IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF CHRISTIAN GROUPS TO BATE THE LAW. OPERATING A " MINISTRY" FROM MY HOME ( A BONIFED BUSINESS, WHERE I GET MAIL AND FOR WHICH I CLAIM A TAX DEDUCTION, MAY BE AT ODDS WITH ZONING. IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW WHAT IS ALLOWED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. BEING A GOOD CHRISTIAN ALSO REQUIRES THAT I HAVE RESPECT FOR THE LAW, THERE IS A HINT OF CODE VIOLATIONS IN THE ARTICLE SO THE STORY MAY HAVE OTHER ARMS AND LEGS. THIS IS A RUSH TO JUDGEMENT STORY, I DOn't HAVE ALL THE FACTS.
Rediculious!
That is a crying shame! So its ok to have 10 people over for a football game but not to have prayer? What is the people of this world coming to? So sad!
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