Will Grigg?s Liberty Minute

September 16, 2011

Like many other cities in California, San Juan Capistrano was settled by Catholic missionaries. The historic mission building that gave the city its name still exists today, and tourists who visit the site contribute a fair portion of the revenue on which the city government subsists. The same municipal government that indirectly profits from that long-shuttered house of worship is now extorting money from a couple as punishment for the supposed crime of holding prayer meetings in their own home.

Chuck and Stephanie Fromm hold Bible study sessions each Wednesday evening and Sunday morning. They also run a home-based business publishing Worship Leader magazine. Their 4,700-square foot home was built on a parcel of land that includes a corral, barn, pool, and sizeable back yard. While dozens of people assemble for the study meetings, parking is ample and the proceedings are meditative ? which means that there is no reason for anyone to complain about the noise.

Yet complain someone did, and now the city government has inflicted on the couple $200 in fines for failing to receive a ?conditional-use permit? to do something on their own property that no government has the authority to forbid or regulate.

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.