A man in Arizona, who is an ordained minister in the Church of God in Christ, is in jail after authorities claim he violated probation conditions set when he was arrested for holding worship and bible study meetings at his home.  Authorities claim that the issue is not that he was holding services, but that the building he was doing it in was not up to code.  He continues his ministry in jail, and is giving no indication that he plans to stop when he is released.

Here’s my opinion on this:

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The good pastor might be using questionable judgement about the size of the groups he worships with and the facility he is using, but to be honest, the city and state are out of line on this one.  This is one of those things which they ought to stay the heck out of  until someone gets hurt.  Preemptively trying to shut him down, even if their intentions are purely safety oriented, is colored by a perception that they are shutting down the peaceful gathering of citizens to worship because they don’t agree with it.

Phoenix, you can’t win this one.  You all ought to drop it.