Judge Orders Homeowners Assoc. to Allow Bible Meetings in Common Area
by Allie Martin
September 1, 2006
(AgapePress) - - Residents of one California neighborhood have been told by a judge that they can still hold Bible studies in a community center, despite a ban instituted by the homeowners association. For more than 30 years residents of a mobile home park in Warner Springs, California -- northeast of San Diego -- regularly held Bible studies in a nearby community center. But two years ago, the homeowners association barred Bible and prayer meetings after receiving a complaint. Since that time the group had met in homes, but found it difficult to accommodate the gathering, which sometimes numbered as many as 40.
But San Diego Superior Court Judge Jacqueline Stern has now ruled in favor of the Bible-studying residents in a lawsuit that was filed on their behalf by the U.S. Justice Foundation. Gary Kreep with the USJF says the rights of the homeowners have been vindicated.
"We've obtained a preliminary injunction barring the homeowners association from interfering with the Bible study and the prayer meetings," Kreep explains. "And in fact, in recent weeks the homeowners association has gone out of its way to try to accommodate the individuals who want to have these meetings."
USJF explains that under California law a homeowners association is considered a business -- and businesses are not allowed to discriminate based on religion. Kreep believes the ruling by Judge Stern sends a strong message; that is, that people have a fundamental right to be able to pray and to conduct Bible studies in areas which they, essentially, partially own.
"These are common areas," notes Kreep. "They're not some private, little place on the area. And California law specifically provides that such meetings are legal and cannot be interfered with -- as do the California and federal constitutions."
In addition to allowing the Bible and prayer meeting to convene in the community center, the homeowners association was also ordered to pay $12,000 in attorney's fees.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
