The Washington Post - "The Code Enforcer from Hell" by David Waters

A house of prayer isn't necessarily a place of worship, at least not in San Diego County, Calif. Recently, a vigilant code inspector issued a warning citation to David and Mary Jones, who have been holding weekly Bible studies in their home for five years. According to the Joneses, the code enforcer asked them if they ever said "Amen" or "Praise the Lord" during their Bible studies.

Of course, the Joneses replied. The inspector wrote them up. "Cease/stop religious assembly on parcel or obtain major use permit," he wrote on the citation. The Joneses decided to take it up with a higher authority. They contacted an attorney. Dean R. Broyles with the Western Center for Law & Policy assured them that the county's citation violates the Joneses'"First Amendment Right to freely exercise their religion."

Government has a right and responsibility to make sure a big box church doesn't move into the middle of a neighborhood where other residents might not appreciate the additional traffic, noise, or legions of homeless men and women who could be drawn (though not necessarily welcomed) to a place of Christian charity. But can or should the state restrict Bible study and prayer to officially-recognized, government-permitted areas and structures?

Civil libertarians don't think so. "San Diego County has brought KGB tactics to Southern California," said Eric Rassbach, National Litigation Director at the Becket Fund. "Unfortunately this case is not all that unusual--local zoning apparatchiks across the country try to shut down home-based Christian bible studies and Jewish prayer meetings all the time. People of faith should know that federal civil rights law protects against this kind of government intrusion into matters of conscience, and the Becket Fund is ready to help."

To avoid turning his jurisdiction into a full-scale culture war battleground, San Diego County chief administrative officer Walt Ekard issue a quick and simple apology "I deeply regret that a routine code enforcement issue has transformed into a debate over religious freedom in San Diego County," Ekard wrote in a statement.

"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. The Bible studies will continue in Pastor David Jones' home as we work to find a solution that works for everyone involved in this matter. Should I find that County staff at any level acted in a heavy-handed way; did anything inappropriate under the circumstances; or that a change or revision to our processes and procedures is warranted, I will take appropriate action immediately."

Amen and Praise the Lord. The Bible says that Jesus ate with tax collectors, but it doesn't mention code inspectors.

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