A California couple has been fined $300 for holding Bible study in their home, Fox News reports. They have also been warned that continuing to hold Bible study in their personal home will result in additional fines — unless they obtain a permit.

A southern California family has been fined for holding regular Bible studies at their home because it violates a city zoning code, The Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.

The city of San Juan Capistrano, in Orange County, fined Charles and Stephanie Fromm $300 for having as many as 50 people assembled at their home twice a week, the Times reported. City officials also warned the couple that subsequent fines could increase if they continued to host the Bible studies without obtaining a special permit.

A religious legal non-profit group, the Pacific Justice Institute (PJI), has taken up the case saying the fine was a violation of religious freedom.

Indeed, I don’t understand how people interpret the First Amendment to ban prayer in school but think the same amendment allows government to punish people for holding religious study in their own homes.

What does religious freedom mean? That students can’t pray in school but municipalities can interfere with personal religious activity at home? That’s one demented interpretation of religious freedom.

The city insists the home gathering interferes with traffic. A lawyer for the homeowners counters by noting they live in a semi-rural area and none of the neighbors have complained about traffic issues.

The Pacific Justice Institute, which has taken up the case, says it’s prepared to defend the homeowners all the way to the Supreme Court. The group’s web presence can be found here.