Presumptuous busybodiness knows no particular season. The arrogant assumption of the right to boss people around is a year-'round affair that has bureaucrats patrolling for bacon-wrapped hot dogs in the heat of summer and chasing down joyful sledders in the cold months so they can jam helmets on their heads and force them to sit upright. But every now and then you get a perfect storm: nannystaters who meet the demands of the holidays with an uber-authoritarian frenzy wrapped in a bow. Then, public officials issue just-in-time-for-Thanksgiving orders to churches and synagogues in Phoenix, Arizona, to stop feeding the homeless on their own property because ... well ... slapping down a few warming trays to serve free food in a church utility room counts as operating a business in a residential neighborhood. And rules are rules, you know.
For now, the CrossRoads United Methodist Church -- the House o' God at the center of the decision, though it applies everywhere in Phoenix -- is continuing its Saturday morning breakfasts, pending the hearing of its appeal in January by the Board of Adjustment. That means Christmas meals will be served, perhaps sparing the meddlers the worst possible press over their intrusive -- not to mention Grinch-ish -- ruling.
But come January, doers of good deeds in Arizona will have to go hat in hand to a bunch of government seat warmers to find out if they'll be allowed to continue feeding hungry, poor people at their own cost, and under their own roofs.
email J.D.: civilliberties (at) tuccille.com
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Comments
Wouldn't it be fun to see armed Christians standing guard at the church property to make sure the homeless people got their food without being intimidated by the thugs in the silly hats of government.
A classic case of Government unwilling to let a community solve its own problems- but rather desperate to "remind" people that they NEED government. Where do all these idiots come from? And why are they sooo attracted to judicial positions? They should be summarily canned the next election, and told that they are lousy neighbors and community members. Perhaps Cuba would be a better neighborhood for them to live in- there "all" their needs could be met by Government.
I think Kent't idea is the best, providing the armed Christians really are prepared to "smite them hip and thigh".
Wouldn't be fun if redneck morons like Kent McManigal could come up with a reasonable peaceful solution rather than spout a bunch fo gun nuttery? But he speaks volumes about the mentality of today's theocons, "Guns for Jesus" types.
Sure a lot of kness jerking on this one, when I'd bet what really happened is those residents whined to their elected officials about thos nasty homeless people invading their neighborhoods and the officials simply twisted existing law to shut up the folks who VOTE.
Simply a case of mob rule in action is my bet.
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