SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. — A California court case that drew national attention was settled in mid-November, with the city of San Juan Capistrano paying back $300 it had fined a couple hosting a popular Bible study in their home and amending a city ordinance that they get a permit, World News Service has reported.
Chuck and Stephanie Fromm’s weekly Bible study has been known to draw up to 50 people, which prompted an atheist neighbor to complain to the city this summer. The city, citing an ordinance requiring churches to obtain conditional use permits, fined the Fromms twice for refusing to get one.
“It was always a question of whether they were a church or not, and they were not,” city attorney Omar Sandoval told The Orange County Register when the settlement was announced.
In exchange for the refunded money and changes to the ordinance the Fromms dropped their religious freedom lawsuit against the city.
“The city has now rescinded those fines, completely reversed its direction and made a commitment to no longer be oppressive toward families having Bible studies in their homes,” Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, said.
Share with others: