Christians sue to continue home groups

Christians sue to continue home groups

PITTSBURGH — A Christian couple in Pennsylvania has filed a lawsuit after being ordered by government officials to stop using their private property to host Bible studies or other religious events. The 35-acre property owned by Scott and Terri Fetterolf is a working farm and hosting religious activities is not its “principal use,” according to the lawsuit filed this week in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. However, officials from Sewickley Heights Borough, near Pittsburgh, ordered the Fetterolfs not to host religious activities, they allege.

Government officials are threatening the couple with fines of $500 per day plus court costs and attorney’s fees for having Bible studies at their home and conducting religious retreats for church leaders and seminary students, the lawsuit states.

The couple was served a Notice of Violation/Cease and Desist Order last October and notified that their activities could come under zoning restrictions such as those applicable to “places of worship,” while parties, political fundraisers and other secular activities had not been banned. (TAB)