Bible study leader Michael Salman is sitting in jail today after his home was raided earlier this week by more than a dozen Phoenix, Ariz. police officers and city officials. His offense? The city says people aren’t allowed to hold private bible studies on their own property.
Salman was sentenced to 60 days in jail, three years probation and received a $12,180 fine for “the crime.” His wife Suzanne spoke with Fox and Friends this morning to express her shock and disbelief at the entire situation. According to Suzanne, the city told her that her husband was essentially arrested because the bible study was at a private house .. and that essentially, it’s a church. Since they weren’t zoned for church, they were told they were breaking the rules.
“It defies logic, honestly. I don’t understand … that something so small got so large like this,” Suzanne said. “People do it all over the United States all the time.”
John Whitehead of the Rutherford Institute believes the family is being discriminated against because of their faith. “The key is the Constitution guarantees the right to freedom to religion … the right to assemble and talk to each other wherever you want to be – in public or in your home,” he said. “The thing that I think is so shocking is that you might expect this in Iran or [some place] around the world … but happening in the United States, this is so shocking it’s beyond belief.”
Phoenix City Prosecutor Vicki Hill said in a statement: “It came down to zoning and proper permitting. Anytime you are holding a gathering of people continuously as he does, we ave concerns about people being able to exit the facility properly in case there is a fire, and that’s really allt his comes down to.”
What do you make of this case? As Suzanne says in the below interview, is this different than a regularly meeting Tupperware group or the like? And if so, how and why?
Here is the link to the video:
http://video.insider.foxnews.com/v/1729745612001/
What informed people have seen on the rise for years is now positioning for rapid movement – the complete eradication of individual rights.
Conservative politicians have done little more than posture, and the liberal – oops – I suppose they would say progressive, politicians have somehow managed to convince a grossly ignorant populace that the treasonous behaviors they routinely engage in – illegal though many may be – are as American as apple pie. Either a quick, significant turnaround in representation (I use the term loosely) must occur, or the very supporters of the left will find there will be no United States Of America left, except in name.
Surely some will regard these comments as fear mongering. I believe a line from modern culture will sum it up: Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Unbelievable! Illogical. Downright ridiculous. People have been doing this for years all over the US, including at MY HOME. I hope this doesn’t derail him from holding Bible Studies in the future. These officers are absurd. On another note: the CHURCH is GOD’s PEOPLE, NOT A FACILITY. Whether they meet at a McDonalds, a baseball field, a street corner, a house, or on the White House steps, they are the Church. You can’t give permits for people to congregate. Now THAT would be unconstitutional!
Whether you believe in God (which I do) or the suacrmpey of the universe (which is somewhat unavoidable anyway) stillness is absolutely vital to one’s spiritual growth. No one can better themselves by filling their head with noise, you’ve got to quiet all of that confusion inside, then the simplest principles come through. Some call it being enlightened with the universe, some call it the voice of God. I call it the very essence of my faith. So let’s stop arguing. Be still.