City of Houston demands pastors turn over sermons

www.foxnews.com...

The city of Houston has issued subpoenas demanding a group of pastors turn over any sermons dealing with homosexuality, gender identity or Annise Parker, the city’s first openly lesbian mayor. And those ministers who fail to comply could be held in contempt of court.

The subpoenas are just the latest twist in an ongoing saga over the Houston’s new non-discrimination ordinance. The law, among other things, would allow men to use the ladies room and vice versa. The city council approved the law in June.

After opponents of the bathroom bill filed a lawsuit the city’s attorneys responded by issuing the subpoenas against the pastors.

I have a real problem with government demanding any information from religious organizations.

If the city's non-discrimination ordinance tramples on Freedom of Speech and/or Association, it should be repealed immediately. Clearly, the Mayor's goal is to deconstruct religious liberty in the name of “tolerance and diversity”.

Oops, thought I'd try my hand at starting a thread. Now, I see I did not post in breaking news and don't know how to move it. Sorry, I'll try harder next time

The link has moved it seems..www.foxnews.com... ouston-demands-pastors-turn-over-sermons/

Having lived and worked in Houston for years,
all I can say is...Idiots.

a reply to: badgerprints Yes and unfortunately it seems to get even more so by the day.

I agree in many ways with your opinions regarding
civic oversight in seromons being mandatory.
And as frightening as that sounds I think
it's good it's the city and Not the State or the Fed.

There's also some fear that some pastors
are being fed spooky hyperbole, from one of
the many "news" outlets that are obvious
hyper-political rant.

Simply for the purpose of pure out-rage or disgust.
Out rage is the name of the game on both isles .
And it's what we are being fed craftily everyday.

So maybe a city has good reason to keep peace
from questionably informed out raged sermons.

a reply to: AreUKiddingMe
Fixed ...and thank you

Progressives don't like freedom of speech.

second line.

a reply to: UnderKingsPeak

I think it's good it's the city and not the State or the Fed.

Fourth largest city in the US, and if allowed to stand, may well make it easier for state and fed to follow suit. For now, it seems that the religious organizations have told the city to "take a hike". And, I say more power to them!

Out rage is the name of the game on both isles. And it's what we are being fed craftily everyday.

Agree with that sentiment

So maybe a city has good reason to keep peace from questionably informed outraged sermons.

Perhaps, but if a violation of law occurs, then take appropriate action. But, unless and until that happens, I don't think government at any level has any right to demand such information.

And, at the risk of dumping gasoline on a little spark, I'm trying to find out how many mosques were on the list. I don't imagine very many of them were in favor of the "bathroom bill". I expect the number to be extremely low, maybe even zero. If that is the case then the city is discriminating when attempting to enforce its anti-discrimination ordinance...which would pretty much sum up the state of politics these days (too sad).

a reply to: jihadoflove

I think you should ask for a mod to move this to the appropriate Forum so it can get the exposure intended.

On that, here is the link to the motion [PDF File] to suppress the subpoena requests. Here is the link to the subpoena requests that the city filed.

Here are a few of the requested documents that the city attempted to subpoena for: (Found in appendix A, Section II)

1...
f. the Petition, or any drafts of the Petition, including any discussions relating to the language included at the top of the Petition
...
h. Petition signers,
i. Petition Circulators,
...
m. the topics of equal rights, civil rights, homosexuality, or gender identity,
n. language relating to restroom access,
o. any discussion about whether or how HERO does or does not impact restroom access.
...
9...
d. tax forms relating to the payment of Petition Circulators
...
12. All speeches, presentations, or sermons related to HERO, the Petition, Mayor Annise Parker, homosexuality, or gender identity prepared by, delivered by, revised by, or approved by you or in your possession.
...

That list isn't exhaustive by any means and the City is going to be in a world of legal hurt because of this.

I can only guess what the Supreme Court will say about this.

But if i was a pastor i would not comply no mater what the sermon said.

This come under the 1st amendment.

The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting ...

a reply to: ownbestenemy
Nice info, thanks. Move request made, thanks again.
I hope you're right about the "legal hurt".
They need to get slapped down, and the harder the better.

What a gaggle of goobers.

I hope this backfires in their faces.

a reply to: ANNED

I doubt it would ever get to the level of the Supreme Court...unless a judge upholds the subpoenas and/or either parties keep pressing the issue or ruling(s).

a reply to: jihadoflove

What do you expect out of Texas? Bill of Rights and constitution is just a piece of paper. And they are conservative enough that they are willing to give up their rights to the gov. to be 'safe'. Well y'all have fun with that then. I'm staying out of Texas. Been there and don't want to do it again.

The pastors can just tell the city their hard drives crashed.

from the article;

The subpoenas are just the latest twist in an ongoing saga over the Houston’s new non-discrimination ordinance. The law, among other things, would allow men to use the ladies room and vice versa. The city council approved the law in June.

Sounds very interesting.

But aren't they worried about "discrimination" *inside* the washrooms?

a reply to: Metallicus

Excellent strategy! Seems to be working well for IRS and EPA...problem solved

Now the extreme Jealousy starts...

originally posted by: UnderKingsPeak
I agree in many ways with your opinions regarding
civic oversight in seromons being mandatory.
And as frightening as that sounds I think
it's good it's the city and Not the State or the Fed.

There's also some fear that some pastors
are being fed spooky hyperbole, from one of
the many "news" outlets that are obvious
hyper-political rant.

Simply for the purpose of pure out-rage or disgust.
Out rage is the name of the game on both isles .
And it's what we are being fed craftily everyday.

So maybe a city has good reason to keep peace
from questionably informed out raged sermons.

How many iman mosques have to turn over their sermons for inspection?