Religious freedom signs ignite HOA war

Ridgefield resident Lisa Schmidt is passionate about her Catholic faith — so passionate in fact that she staked signs in her yard encouraging others to "stand up for religious freedom."

And stand up is exactly what Schmidt did when she received a notice from her homeowners association asking her to remove the religious freedom signs, which had been set up alongside several yard signs expressing support for political candidates.

It all started with a neighbor's complaint about all the signs in Schmidt's yard.

The Mt. Vista Home Owners Association's handbook allows homeowners in the 430-home subdivision to place candidate signs in their yards within the 45 days leading up to an election, but the religious freedom signs did not fit the description of what's allowed, according to the association's notice that was sent to Schmidt.

Schmidt, a marketing professional, said she typically advises people that "emotion has no place in rational thinking," but said she's had trouble following her own advice in this particular situation.

"(The homeowners association is) overzealous to say the least," she said. "It's gone too far."

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Chris P

So religious freedom equals anarchy. Just ignore all rules because of your "religion".
- TW
  
  Chris,
  What "rules"?
  One person expressed his opinion. No where is it a company policy of serving the public or in hiring of employees.
  Do you even really know what's going on, here?
  - Evermyrtle
    
    The only rule that I have been able to detect is, don't give up continue to harass conservatives, especially Christians, in as attempt to turn them away from JESUS CHRIST Forget it, it won't happen!
  - Jeff Dixon
    
    Chris, how about the Muslims? Are they also required to follow the rules of the HOA?
- Evermyrtle
  
  No Chris, Christians make mistakes, the differences are we will admit our mistakes and do something about them. Liberals never change their minds, admit their mistakes, just continue on the same theme, mistake or not, forever.
  - Jeff Dixon
    
    What 'mistake" has any Christian ever admitted? Besides the preachers who get caught screwing around.
- Robert30
  
  Hey! It is a situation of their (the so called religious who are never really religious just bigots)
  rights. Anyone notice the religious right is always right? If you are not a part of their belief system you are just automatically wrong. They should go to their religious institutions are preach to each other as they are the only ones who care about their mind blinding beliefs.
paxcat

She could put that sign inside her house in a window which would not violate most HOA rules re: signs. The reason for the rule is if one is allowed which is non-political, then all must be allowed and therefore, no rule! The HOA is designed to keep the values of homes up, so that everyone can benefit from a good investment.
- Robert30
  
  The sign, if not acceptable, should not be allowed in the window either. It should not be seen from the street.
  In our HOA of over 5000 homes no one would dare put up such a stupid sign.
  Let her go and protest elsewhere.
http://www.missiontoisrael.org Ted R. Weiland

What exactly is religious freedom? Is religious freedom Biblical? Does not religious freedom enable polytheism? Does Yahweh, the God of the Bible, approve of religious freedom? Or, is religious freedom as provided by the First Amendment a violation of the First Commandment? Would Lisa Schmidt even be having these issues if weren't for the First Amendment?

For answers, see "Amendment 1: Government-Sanctioned Polytheism" at http://www.missiontoisrael.org/biblelaw-constitutionalism-pt11.php.
- Truth Sayer
  
  Religious freedom is simply free choice – choose ye today whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord
  - http://www.missiontoisrael.org Ted R. Weiland
    
    Every person has that without it being mandated by government. Contrast some of the 1600 Colonial governments (which included the First Commandment and its judgements in their law code) with the First Amendment and you'll get a pretty good sense of the framers sedition against Yahweh. What's been the result? Since the ratification of the First Amendment, America has become the most pluralistic, polytheistic nation to ever exist, outside possibly ancient Rome.
    - Bighoss
      
      Yep, those 1600-era colonists were a real model–for religious intolerance. They allowed freedom all right, freedom to choose the particular version of Christianity that was dominant in the community, and they punished and ostracized those who did not conform.
      
      Thank God (or Yahweh if you prefer) that the founding fathers steered this nation away from such intolerance by writing a Constitution that protects religious freedom.
      - http://www.missiontoisrael.org Ted R. Weiland
        
        Hoss, any Puritan intolerance that was unbiblical does not justify your intolerance for Yahweh, His First Commandment, and rest of His moral law.
      - Jeff Dixon
        
        No, commons sense does that, although I doubt Hoss would ever admit to that.
- Jeff Dixon
  
  No it is American, and one of the reasons we do not fight internal religious wars here.
John Daniels

If it was a sign praising Islam nothing would be said. I guarantee it!!!
- Robert30
  
  Members of Islamic communities do not put signs up in their yards and on their cars.
  It is forbidden to do so. They are not blatant in their proselytizing as are xians.
  They don't post their private thoughts in public places.
  - Truth Sayer
    
    No need to…when you blow up a dozen people while screaming the name of allah – they get the point.
  - sadnana
    
    Obviously you haven't yet read http://zionica.com/2012/08/04/muslim-vigilantes-declares-london-a-shariah-zone/
  - dragonfire777
    
    No they just kill people who don't believe as they do. Of course not posting any signs.
    - LeeRaque
      
      Obviously you don't know or care about learning anything about the Muslim community or religion.
- Bighoss
  
  Oh, tommyrot! It is a certainty that if someone put up such a sign, a horde of Christian nationist theocrats would rise up in high dudgeon to complain to authorities and demand its removal. How absolutely silly of you to assert that nothing would be done about it. Zoning laws apply to everyone and the local officials would very likely respond by enforcing applicable laws.Your knee-jerk assertion is just asinine.
  - Glen S
    
    You really should read the article better. This had nothing to do with zoning regulations. This is an HOA with rules of its own enforcing those rules. One may argue that the family should realize that if you want the nice pool and sport facility of the neighborhood, who must put up with ridiculous yard maintenance rules. But this family did sign the HOA agreement, so are bound by the bi-laws.
    - Bighoss
      
      Yes, it IS the HOA that would enforce the rule, but the argument that nothing would be done if the sign was one praising Islam is a lame, knee-jerk argument that has no merit. I am confident that there would be plenty of homeowners objecting to such a sign and its removal would be demanded by the HOA authorities in the same manner in which they enforced against the "Catholic signs."
- Jeff Dixon
  
  You would be wrong
mesaman

Simple solution for the HOA leadership to consider; remove all signs, or allow those who object to have the same or equal rights. Otherwise, the leadership is using it's authority to foster an agenda that may be deleterious to home owners.
Robert30

In a diverse community there is NO place for signs pro or con religions of any kind. The Catholic church is just too heavy handed pushing their members to propagate their beliefs amongst those who don't want any part of their religion that supports perverts and all sorts of immorality.
No religion has any right to have their members post signs in a private community.
If you have some great desire to put controversial signs that are inappropriate for a community you should be removed from that community. Move to someplace that is private property and no HOA.
This woman and others like her know they have HOA rules when she moved in. She is disruptive to the community and has no rights special to her. Perhaps she would love to have her neighbors put signs up stating xianity is taking away the rights of all good practicing Satanists. Same difference.
Neither has a right to post anything.
Read your HOA CC&R's before you buy. If you don't like them go elsewhere.
Bill

Good for you Lisa – keep your sign up.
Far Rider

Homeowners associations are exactly like living in a police state. With all the controversies that have arisen throughout the years I don't have much sympathy for folks having problems like this. If you want the freedom to do what you want on your own property then don't buy a home within an HOA. Additionally, with the efforts of the UN's Agenda 21 to corral people into urban areas, when I hear stories like this, I always encourage people to give up urban and suburban living and move out to rural areas. Life in HOA's is just a taste of what is to come if Agenda 21 is a total success and we are all locked up in "mega cities."
ac

Good for you Lisa! Christians have been silent for too long! Suggestion: wait until you are within the 45 days and put up a sign that says "Vote for Jesus!"
DockyWocky

Roberto30 says moslems are forbidden (by something) to put signs in their yards or on their cars advertizing islam, However, they are not forbidden to form up in violent mobs threatening folks to convert to islam, or get their heads chopped off.

Go figure.
joeupyoursMF!

only a liberal demoRAT anti-Ameican would vote for huSIN obama or any demoRAT,joeupyoursMF'S!
- dragonfire777
  
  Tell us how you really feel.
Bighoss

The covenants, conditions, and restrictions in residential subdivisions have prevented a multitude of tacky, tasteless, and otherwise objectionable features that could lower property values and produce nausea in persons who value good taste and decorum. The lady bought a house in the subdivision. In doing so, she agreed to abide by certain conditions and she should do so.
http://www.facebook.com/barryj.becker Barry J Becker

Now listen,in SOUTH AUSTRALIA I put up large boards in my front yard, so as to comment on matters political 24/7, with chalk, only to have all rights abolished by LOCAL Govt. (Onkaparinga Council) abusing their power by manipulating a development act to end my graFARTi campaign against Government corruption and for all convicted sex offenders to end their lives while in prison,, zero release = zero re-offenders.
Kris

What exactly are "home owners associations" good for? I have one and they do nothing for me or anyone else. They collect the fees and do nothing! These are just another scam to get money from you! Mine doesn't do snow removal, or weed cutting without charging for it above the regular fees and even then it only cuts weeds when the city starts leveling fees! The key is, "when the city levels fees" and then those fees are on the home owner or the ex home owner or the reality company, not the neighborhood! They do absolutely no snow removal for any fee at all! So what exactly do they do except impose and issue orders to you regarding your own property! If someone does something illegal on their property, there are laws to take care of it. You don't need an assosciation to do anything. If I want to fly a flag or post signs on my property, it should be my right under the constitution. The so called "housing association" just restricts your freedom contrary to the constitution! It's like you are serfs and the association is the king! Now some may say that it protects the value of your home. REALLY! Has it protected it so far? With Hussain policies, everyones home value has gone down over 40%. So did the housing association protect your home value? These dinosours are not needed but they have you duped into believing you do! If one person says I don't like those signs on the "Smith's" property then the housing authority goes to town dictating and filing suits against the "Smith's". So 1 person can make a complaint and the authority throws the constitution out the door and harasses the home owner, even trying to take their home away, because of a minority of one does'nt like the signs or whatever they found to complain about. So what it amounts to is that your are bowing to one person or maybe 2 peoples wims! Wheres the freedom folks! Why surrender your freedon so easily. This sounds like communism and slavery to me, or at the very least, serfdom.