Persecution in Phoenix, AZ – Home Pastor Jailed

Persecution in Phoenix, AZ – Home Pastor Jailed

The story below is from Pastor Duke Tabor’s blog page. You can see his posting here: http://taberstruths.com/city-of-phoenix-threatens-to-jail-pastor-for-holding-worship-services-at-home-70211/

In another case of government bureaucratic red tape and overstepping their constitutional limitations, the city of Phoenix Arizona is threatening to jail a pastor for holding worship services on his own property. Hiding behind city zoning ordinances just as the city of Santa Ana California is doing, the city of of Phoenix Arizona is violating the first amendment of  the constitution and is violating Pastor Michael Salman and his wife Suzanne’s constitutional right to worship. I decided to run this story because I am trying to show you how our government is trying every way possible to encroach upon religious liberty. My friends, every time that government makes a law, a freedom is restricted in some way. Now I believe that we should have laws, but when laws violate the very principles that our country was founded upon, these laws have to be exposed, fought and repealed and the people that did not respect our religious freedoms and liberty in the first place, need to be recalled and voted out of office. Enough is enough!

As a result of the city of Phoenix persecuting this family under the guise of zoning laws, Pastor Michael made a video as he prepared to turn himself in to the Maricopa County Jail to serve a 60 day sentence. Take a look at this video from Youtube

So what happened when Pastor Salman arrived at jail?

These excerpts are from the Phoenix NewTimes who has been chronicling this travesty of justice since 2007. You see this is just not an isolated instance of persecution but has been going on for years where the city is trying to manhandle a family because of their faith. Check this out!

By Ray Stern Wed., Jun. 20 2012 at 2:12 PM

Michael Salman, who’s been squabbling with Phoenix for years over his home-worship services, says he was sent home Saturday night after he showed up at jail to begin his 60-day sentence. Salman’s been fighting the sentence since his September 2010 conviction for violating building codes at his 1.5-acre property near 31st and Northern Avenues. His struggle to be allowed to have 40 or so people at his home each week for worship services has been going on since 2007, as New Times has chronicled. The home has even been raided by police — twice. City inspectors say a structure on the property where the gatherings take place isn’t safe.

After a lengthy battle in federal court, last week a judge denied his motion to block the sentence and tossed his civil lawsuit. Theoretically, that meant he should have to serve the sentence. But it seems as though city officials lost their nerve after Salman self-surrendered and was booked in at the Maricopa County jail. Inexplicably, jail officials sent him home, Salman says. ”God granted me an injunction,” Salman says today, without a trace of irony. At this point, he says he’s waiting for a phone call from the Phoenix City Court, which is expected to give him another self-surrender date. He’s scheduled to be back in city court on June 28, at which point he could be ordered to jail.

Salman says his kids were “crying their faces off” before he drove to the jail, and he even prepared a YouTube video in which he rails against the city and defends what he believes is his right to have weekly worship services at his home.

Now he’s back in the holding pattern.

Salman is also the owner of Mighty Mike’s Burgers in Phoenix, and he and his wife, Suzanne, run a credit-card processing company, as well. All that’s in addition to his volunteer work as a minister for the weekly home services and the Harvest Christian Fellowship.

source: http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2012/06/pastor_michael_salman_reports.php

Why is it important that we stand up for the right to hold worship services in our homes?

Every one of you could be at risk if we do not stop cities from using zoning laws to violate religious liberties and freedoms. Think about it. You decide to have a group of friends over to watch a Christian movie and have some snacks. The city you live in could say you are holding a religious service and fine or jail you because you do not have proper parking, handicap access, and the proper number of toilets in your bathroom. You could be jailed for having a group of friends over for a Bible study. Your teenagers practicing to be the next Christian rock star with his or her buddies could be sent to jail. Do you see why this is important? Are you willing to allow your city or the city of Phoenix to violate your God given and constitutional rights? What are you going to do about it? Will you spread the word about how Pastor Michael is standing up and stand up with him? Will you confront your city councilmen and demand that there be an exemption passed with city zoning laws for religious activities and meetings? Will you make your voice heard?

Make sure you tweet this article and share it on facebook! Pastor Michael needs our support!

Blessings

Pastor Duke