City of Venice Florida Threatens Family With $250 Per Day Fine For Weekly Prayer Meeting In Home

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 to have the  same group on Monday evening to watch Monday Night Football

Posted by CotoBlogzz

  

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – The city of Venice Florida officials have determined that Shane and Marlene Roessiger hold a prayer meeting at their residence once per week and has  ordered the family to comply with the City's Code which does not allow a "house of worship" on a property of less than 2 acres.

The Roessigers head a small ministry called In Him Healing Touch Ministries and hold a prayer meeting at their residence once per week.  Consequently the Roessigers are  facing fines of $250 per day for having an unauthorized "house of worship" in their home. Like many small nonprofits,  the Roessigers  initially chose to get mail at their home instead of renting out a post office box. Venice Code Enforcement officials are using the listing of the residence as the ministry's address to build a case against the Roessigers.

In addition to prayer and Bible study, the Roessigers inistry has food outreaches in the community and engages in foreign missions work. The latter includes ministering to people living in garbage dumps through providing meals and religious services.

In a letter sent by attorney Kevin Snider of the Pacific Justice Institute, the City Code Enforcement Board was informed that 

" the corporate address has been changed so that the home address is no longer listed with the Florida Secretary of State. However, this family intends to continue to exercise their rights to the use and enjoyment of their property for prayer and Bible study", 

Snider wrote.

In an unusual response, the Board continued the matter indefinitely.

 "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," 

said Roessiger. 

Shortly after the last hearing before the Board, Code Enforcement cited the residents again for having a small sign in their yard which reads: "Need Prayer (941) 484-4915." Again, the family is being threatened with a $250 per day fine for the illegal sign. The Venice Code makes an exception for political signs, with which the surrounding neighborhoods are strewn.

"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," said Pacific Justice Institute’s President Brad Dacus. "If cities want to fine people and drag them into court or before other tribunals for having prayer meetings, we will be waiting for them," Dacus continued.

Brad Dacus, President PJI

PJI acknowledges and thank attorney Roger Gannam of the law firm Lindell & Farson for serving as Florida counsel in this matter.

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In a change of heart, San Juan Capistrano to protect Bible Studies

Posted by CotoBlogzz



Rancho Santa Margarita, CA -  San Juan Capistrano sparked national outrage after fining and threatening a home Bible study group.  Now, it has taken steps to prevent future conflicts, a  move some say, may become a model for cities across the country.

The City Council of San Juan Capistrano voted unanimously late Tuesday night to adopt changes to its zoning code, based on recommendations by Pacific Justice Institute.

Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) legal defense organization specializing in the defense of religious freedom, parental rights, and other civil liberties.

After PJI went to court earlier this year to defend the Fromm family, who had targeted by the City’s actions, the City reversed course and refunded the fines it had levied against the family and started a process to to amend its Municipal Code working with PJI.

PJI President Brad Dacus in a video,  praised the City for following PJI’s recommendations so that code enforcement officers will not seek to shut down small home Bible study groups in the future.

Dacus is also encouraging concerned citizens across the country to check with their local officials to make sure that home bible studies will be protected in their communities, offering free legal assistance to people of faith whose cities are hostile to their religious practice.

The changes adopted by San Juan Capistrano conform to the California Building Code, which does not apply church building standards to home-based groups with less than 50 attendees. As a result, small home-based religious groups in the city will be treated like similarly-sized secular gatherings and will not be required to get costly use permits