Faithwire
  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • News
  • Politics
  • Coronavirus Updates
  • Faith
  • Opinion
  • Christmas
  • Set Free Course

Pennsylvania Town Bans Family from Hosting Bible Study in Their Home

Photo credit: Getty Images / Stephen Morton / Stringer
Photo credit: Getty Images / Stephen Morton / Stringer
Share Tweet
By Will Maule
Author

July 23, 2018

A religious liberty law firm has hit back at a Pennsylvania town after it allegedly banned Bible studies and other religious activities from taking place on property owned by a local couple.

School District Threatens to Call Police After Mystery Person Gives Out Free Bibles on Campus

The Independence Law Center has brought a case against Sewickley Heights Borough, which is located about 15 miles from Pittsburgh. The lawsuit alleges that the town ordered Scott and Terri Fetterolf to cease holding religious activities in their own home as part of a zoning restriction, according to PA Family.

The suit argues that the town’s zoning restriction violates the couple’s First Amendment rights to the free exercise of their religion.

“Government should not target religious activities for punishment, particularly when similar secular activities are permitted,” said Jeremy Samek, senior counsel for the Independence Law Center. “In America, no government can categorically ban people from assembling to worship on one’s own property.”

The suit further notes that the property “has been used for many decades to host religious activities.”

The previous owner of the rural property, Nancy Doyle Chalfant “opened her home, and her beloved Dundee Farm, to church retreats, seminary picnics, youth groups and many other organizations she supported,” according to an obituary.

The borough reportedly issued a “Notice of Violation/Cease and Desist Order” against the Fetterolfs back in October of last year.

The suit continues:

“Sewickley Heights is threatening the Fetterolfs with fines of $500 per day, plus court costs including the Borough’s attorney’s fees, for having Bible studies at their home, having meetings where religious songs are sung, conducting any religious retreats for church leaders or seminary students for prayer or for camaraderie-building/fellowship time, and  conducting any religious fundraisers.”

Randall Wenger, chief counsel for the Independence Law Center said the borough “has no business overseeing a group of people reading and discussing a book together on private property — even if that book is the Bible,” as reported by the Sewickley Herald.

(H/T: Sewickley Herald)

Latest

  • News

    Ex-Navy SEAL’s One-Word Response When Asked the Best Way to Prevent Horrific Mass Shootings

  • News

    Why the Toxic, Diabolical Responses to ‘Thoughts and Prayers’ After Mass Shootings Fuel More Evil

  • Faith

    ‘Harbingers of Things to Come’: Jonathan Cahn Film Explores Ancient Mysteries, Prophetic Warnings for US

  • News

    Lee Greenwood Joins Celebs, Politicians in Backing Out of NRA Convention, Citing Texas Horror: ‘I Cannot Be Canceled’

  • Media

    Viral Libs of TikTok Account Suspended From Instagram


Navigation

  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter
  • Staff
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Sign up to get our newsletter your inbox every day.

Newsletter Signup

Do you want to read
more articles like this?