Just as Gilbert, Arizona draws near to a resolution on its anti-religious city code, similar tensions flare in Rancho Cucamonga, California (the second time this year).
On Tuesday, the city informed the Shiloh Tabernacle to either cease its household meetings entirely or acquire an expensive permit, which adds up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. A letter was sent to the homeowner, insisting that the regular Friday night meetings are not allowed because the group’s activities define it as a “church,” and hence is required to obtain the Conditional Use Permit for residential areas. Also, the city notified the group that no permit would be granted and that the meetings must cease by Good Friday on April 2nd.
The Pacific Justice Institute, a non-profit legal defense organization specializing in matters of religious freedom, parental rights, and other civil liberties, represents the homeowner and plans to file an appeal against the city.
Brad Dacus, President of the Pacific Justice Institute, said, “Imposing a Condition Use Permit requirement on a home Bible study is manifestly absurd and unjust. I don’t know of a single court in America that would approve their actions.”
The organization wants to give the city a chance to rescind its letter without litigation. Even so, the Pacific Justice Institute is fully prepared to take the case as far as is necessary to defend both the Bible study group and religious freedom.