Religious persecution, or overbearing regulations?

brophy said
This certainly isn't a constitutional dilemma. But to engage on the merits...
The issue isn't what goes on inside your home, but instead the "externalites" that your meeting imposes on your neighbors.
When you live in a city with finite parking space in your neighborhood, your neighbors have a right to care about the cars parked on the street in front of their house.

If you disagree, then are there any limits? What if I want to hold a "Phish" concert in my backyard?

[/realityEndsThisThread]

I have to say that if the article's information is correct and the attorney's description of the questioning is true, then these people were certainly targeted and it is most definitely a Constitutional issue. The impetus may have been a neighbor who was upset about parking, but the questions asked were unrelated to parking. In the comments below the article was this statement:

The problem is that the line of questioning had nothing to do with parking. It had to do with what they do in the house...pray and worship God. THAT is completely protected by the Constitution. So yes, it does sound like they are being targeted.

If "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.'", then that was certainly inappropriate, no matter the zoning laws. I know a little something about zoning laws, having been in city government, and it's hard to get one so broadly defined that you could restrict someone's personal use of their own home. The article states around 15 people met, so I can see how a dozen or so extra cars on an already crowded street might be an inconvenience for residents of that street. But what if the group met at a church and rode a couple of minivans to the house in question? From the questioning, I get the impression that the number of vehicles parked nearby wasn't as important to the county as the nature of the activity inside.

I know, during Saints games, I have said "Amen," "Praise the Lord" and prayed. :ezbill: If I had enough people over to watch the game each week, I could be accused of trying to establish a church. :hihi: