Man Facing Jail For Hosting Home Bible Study

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radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/man-facing-jail-for-hosting-home-bible-study.html

By Todd Starnes
Fox News Radio
July 6, 2012

A Phoenix man has been sentenced to 60 days in jail after he refused to stop hosting Bible studies in the privacy of his home – in violation of the city’s building code laws.

However, the Phoenix city prosecutor’s office said the violations have nothing to do with religious freedom — and everything to do with public safety.

“It came down to zoning and proper permitting,” said Vicki Hill, the chief assistant city prosecutor. “Any time you are holding a gathering of people continuously as he does — we have concerns about people being able to exit the facility properly in case there is a fire — and that’s really all this comes down to.”

According to court documents provided to Fox News Radio, Michael Salman was found guilty in the City of Phoenix Court of 67 code violations. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail along with three years probation and a $12,180 fine. He could be jailed as early as next week unless the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals grants an emergency injunction.

“They’re cracking down on religious activities and religious use,” Salman told Fox News Radio. “They’re attacking what I as a Christian do in the privacy of my home.”

“If I had people coming to my home on a regular basis for poker night or Monday Night Football, it would be permitted,” he said. “But when someone says to us we are not allowed to gather because of religious purposes – that is when you have discrimination.”

[Excerpt]
 
I don’t know, it sounds like he is holding large meetings in a space not designed for that. Maybe he should rent an office or something. They didn’t say how many people are attending but I wish they would have included that figure.
 
TheRealJuliane said:
I don’t know, it sounds like he is holding large meetings in a space not designed for that. Maybe he should rent an office or something. They didn’t say how many people are attending but I wish they would have included that figure.
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There is mention of 15 people and 20 people attending. Not that many but if it is 3 times a week and there is limited parking, it could be a nuisance to the neighbours. However, it sounds like it is an area with pretty big lots.
He and his wife have been hosting Bible studies on their 4.6 acre property since 2005. The gatherings were originally attended by as many as 15 people.

Hill said the city became aware of the meetings after neighbors apparently complained about traffic congestion.

In 2007 they received a letter from the city informing them that the Bible studies were not permitted in their living room because it was in violation of the construction code.

A few months later, members of the Phoenix Fire Dept. broke up the family’s Good Friday fellowship. As many as 20 people were in their backyard eating a meal when firefighters threatened to call the police – unless their guests left the premises.
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This seems to be the issue:
The largest source of contention has been whether or not Salman is running a church.
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GraceSofia said:
There is mention of 15 people and 20 people attending. Not that many but if it is 3 times a week and there is limited parking, it could be a nuisance to the neighbours. However, it sounds like it is an area with pretty big lots.
This seems to be the issue:
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Even if he is running a small (tiny really) church, so what?
 
The real issue here isn’t if he build a church or has bible study or how much parking or how much noise.

The real issue is that this man is facing 60 days in jail and 3 years probation for MUNICIPAL CODE violations.

Imagine if your city said you can only paint your house in lime green. You don’t like lime green and instead paint your house in robin’s egg blue.

Or the city says no American flags and you put one up anyways.

The city comes and cites you. You refuse to change.

Does this mean the city can send you to jail?

It sure sounds like they can in Phoenix.

This isn’t about religious freedom. This is about the coercive power of government.

By the way, I check on sentencing in Arizona.

If he was arrested for possession of meth, or if he was arrested for a third DUI, he’d get less jail time.
 
It also has to do with not following building codes. Such things as exits and wiring codes, etc.

If the place burnt down and people were injured, the town authorities would be responsible for not enforcing the codes.

Jim
 
richard_wang said:
This isn’t about religious freedom. This is about the coercive power of government.
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That would make a more reasonable argument. If his house was not to code and it had burned down, the city would not be liable. No government is under civil or moral obligation to regulate anything.

I would agree with you that if the man had resources to sell magazines or run a restraunt out of his house, he should be able to run a church out of his house. I just do not see where this is a religious rights issue.
 
pnewton said:
Here is more of the story.

global.christianpost.com/news/ariz-preacher-sentenced-to-jail-after-building-private-church-in-backyard-76946/

This isn’t a home Bible study. He built a Church on his property, called it part of his home (separate building with a pulpit and seating for 30). He now wants to paint himself as a martyr for ignoring city codes and assessed fines.
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I think these cases are specifically designed to test the court system. Or, even if they are not, they are initiated by people with an agenda. Yes, the government is too big. Yet, if your purpose is really to bring the Word of God to others, why would you choose the “hill” of code violations for construction? The construction codes are in place everywhere and no one is picking on him for what he is doing. It’s the fact that his construction is not in code and that he is purposely ignoring the fines.

Probably he has a lot more than 15 people on the property, and some neighbor has a grudge. The city is involved as a 3rd party.
 
I find it unbelieveable that he can be jailed for this. BUT, it has been going on for 5 years and he has over 50 violations. Perhaps this is the only tool the city has left to get him in compliance.

In any case, a Christian shouldn’t make a habit of ignoring perfectly legitimate laws like building ordinances or traffic restrictions in neighborhoods.
 
Mrs_Sally said:
I find it unbelieveable that he can be jailed for this. BUT, it has been going on for 5 years and he has over 50 violations. Perhaps this is the only tool the city has left to get him in compliance.

In any case, a Christian shouldn’t make a habit of ignoring perfectly legitimate laws like building ordinances or traffic restrictions in neighborhoods.
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He could still have negotiated with the city to avoid going to jail. Mediators can do a lot in situations like this. Methinks there is a degree of belligerence involved. Maybe he is hoping for a lot of monetary support?
 
irishpatrick said:
Even if he is running a small (tiny really) church, so what?
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It appears to be a safety issue. In the event of a fire i suppose they are worried about means of egress from the structure. Just a guess on my part.
 
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