Should Daniel be free to pray
in his home with friends?

07-08-2026 ACQ EMAIL: Talk Red - Daniel Grand Statement 1

Friend,

This is one of those stories that sounds too outrageous to be real.

It's the story of a modern-day Daniel—the kind you'd expect to read about in history books, not the news.

Daniel Grand is an Orthodox Jew. As a faithful practitioner of his faith, he simply wanted to host a prayer gathering in his home with a small group of friends.

But a neighbor learned about Daniel's plans and reported him to the mayor, demanding that the city "put a stop to this."

Shockingly, University Heights, Ohio did exactly that.

City officials ordered Daniel to obtain a permit to hold the prayer gathering with friends in his home, classifying it as a "place of religious assembly."

Then things got worse.

To make sure Daniel didn't hold meetings without the permit, the city began surveilling his house and even encouraged neighbors to spy on him and report any suspected violations.

Daniel attempted to comply with the town's outrageous demand. But there was an impossible catch.

The permit process wasn't designed for a family home—it was designed for churches, synagogues, and other dedicated houses of worship. To qualify, Daniel would have to stop using his house as a residence altogether.

In other words, the city presented him with an impossible choice: abandon his attempt to host prayer meetings or give up living in his own house. And when Daniel filed a lawsuit to over his free-exercise rights, the federal courts told him he had to finish the permitting process first.

If you're thinking, "This can't be happening in America," you're not alone.

Regular prayer gatherings in private homes have been part of religious life for centuries and remain an essential practice for many faith communities today. Government officials have no business policing peaceful acts of worship behind closed doors. And when they do, those officials must be accountable for violating citizens' constitutional rights.

Like the Daniel of Scripture who was thrown into a lion's den for praying in his own home, Daniel Grand now finds himself under pressure for wanting to do so now.

The methods may be different, but the principle is the same: Government officials are using their power to interfere with a citizen's religious freedom.

If this can happen to Daniel, it can happen to others.

That's why we need your help today.

We're circulating a statement of support for Daniel and for the religious freedom of all Americans.

Will you add your name right now?

ADD YOUR NAME

By signing today and committing to pray for religious freedom in America, you'll be standing with Daniel—and sending a message that Americans will not remain silent when fundamental freedoms are threatened.

The time to speak up is now.

Alliance Defending Freedom

P.S. If you're thinking, "This can't be happening in America," you're not alone. Add your name to this statement of support for Daniel and religious freedom for all.