Inquisition in Houston, TX

[n david]

So the Mayor and City Attorney have updated the subpoena and refiled it. They claim the demand for "sermons" was removed, and now they're just asking for "speeches" and private communication between Pastors and congregants relating to anti-HERO action.

Uhm...aren't "speeches" by Pastors also considered "sermons?"

If the TX Attorney General wasn't running for the Governor's office, I'd want him to take action against her. If he's able to do so, that is. As it stands, if he were to get more involved, the left would likely accuse him of abusing his powers as well.

This Mayor needs to consider the ramifications of what will happen when these Pastor's refuse to give in. Is she really ready for the blowback of putting Pastors in jail? I don't think she's thought this through, and now her arrogance has clouded her judgement. Her community, and I don't mean Houston, need to tell her how bad it would look for HER (with her "lifestyle") to put Pastors in jail over this.

If she thinks the reaction has been bad now, just wait until the news gets out of these Pastors being sent to jail.

[Rudy]

It's exciting!!!

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by n david

So the Mayor and City Attorney have updated the subpoena and refiled it. They claim the demand for "sermons" was removed, and now they're just asking for "speeches" and private communication between Pastors and congregants relating to anti-HERO action.

Uhm...aren't "speeches" by Pastors also considered "sermons?"

If the TX Attorney General wasn't running for the Governor's office, I'd want him to take action against her. If he's able to do so, that is. As it stands, if he were to get more involved, the left would likely accuse him of abusing his powers as well.

This Mayor needs to consider the ramifications of what will happen when these Pastor's refuse to give in. Is she really ready for the blowback of putting Pastors in jail? I don't think she's thought this through, and now her arrogance has clouded her judgement. Her community, and I don't mean Houston, need to tell her how bad it would look for HER (with her "lifestyle") to put Pastors in jail over this.

If she thinks the reaction has been bad now, just wait until the news gets out of these Pastors being sent to jail.

Not the first time she has tried to violate the law.

Denied: Houston Mayor, City Lose Again on Same Sex Marriage, Benefits

Aug 29, 2014


August 28, 2014 – Late yesterday, a federal court judge ruled against the City of Houston and lesbian mayor Annise Parker, in a case about Mayor Parker trying to force same-sex benefits on the city in violation of state law. Earlier in the case, which began in late 2013, a state district court judge ordered Mayor Parker and the City of Houston to “cease and desist” from recognizing same sex marriage and providing benefits to same sex couples married in other states.

http://txvalues.org/2014/08/29/denie...iage-benefits/

[Pressing-On]

Ted Cruz stands up for pastors in Houston

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV9iHAfHwr0#t=119

[Abiding Now]

Originally Posted by n david

So the Mayor and City Attorney have updated the subpoena and refiled it. They claim the demand for "sermons" was removed, and now they're just asking for "speeches" and private communication between Pastors and congregants relating to anti-HERO action.

Uhm...aren't "speeches" by Pastors also considered "sermons?"

If the TX Attorney General wasn't running for the Governor's office, I'd want him to take action against her. If he's able to do so, that is. As it stands, if he were to get more involved, the left would likely accuse him of abusing his powers as well.

This Mayor needs to consider the ramifications of what will happen when these Pastor's refuse to give in. Is she really ready for the blowback of putting Pastors in jail? I don't think she's thought this through, and now her arrogance has clouded her judgement. Her community, and I don't mean Houston, need to tell her how bad it would look for HER (with her "lifestyle") to put Pastors in jail over this.

If she thinks the reaction has been bad now, just wait until the news gets out of these Pastors being sent to jail.

Yea! for Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.


Attorney General Abbott's letter to Houston City Attorney David Feldman
October 15, 2014

Mr. David Feldman
City Attorney
City of Houston
900 Bagby, 4th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002

Dear Mr. Feldman:

Your office has demanded that four Houston pastors hand over to the city government many of their private papers, including their sermons. Whether you intend it to be so or not, your action is a direct assault on the religious liberty guaranteed by the First Amendment. The people of Houston and their religious leaders must be absolutely secure in the knowledge that their religious affairs are beyond the reach of the government. Nothing short of an immediate reversal by your office will provide that security. I call on you to withdraw the subpoenas without further delay.

I recognize that the subpoenas arise from litigation related to a petition to repeal an ordinance adopted by the city council. But the litigation discovery process is not a license for government officials to inquire into religious affairs. Nor is your office’s desire to vigorously support the ordinance any excuse for these subpoenas. No matter what public policy is at stake, government officials must exercise the utmost care when our work touches on religious matters. If we err, it must be on the side of preserving the autonomy of religious institutions and the liberty of religious believers. Your aggressive and invasive subpoenas show no regard for the very serious First Amendment considerations at stake.

A statement released by the Mayor’s Office claims that the subpoenas were prepared by outside lawyers and that neither you nor Mayor Parker was aware of them before they were issued. Nevertheless, these lawyers acted in the City’s name, and you are responsible for their actions. You should immediately instruct your lawyers to withdraw the City’s subpoenas. Religious institutions and their congregants should never have to worry that a government they disagree with will attempt to interfere in their religious affairs. Instead of safeguarding that trust, you appear to have given some of the most powerful law firms in Houston free rein to harass and intimidate pastors who oppose City policy. In good faith, I hope you merely failed to anticipate how inappropriately aggressive your lawyers would be. Many, however, believe your actions reflect the city government’s hostility to religious beliefs that do not align with ci ty policies.

I urge you to demonstrate the City’s commitment to religious liberty and to true diversity of belief by unilaterally withdrawing these subpoenas immediately. Your stated intention to wait for further court proceedings falls woefully short of the urgent action needed to reassure the people of Houston that their government respects their freedom of religion and does not punish those who oppose city policies on religious grounds.

Sincerely,

Greg Abbott
Attorney General of Texas

http://www.wilsoncountynews.com/arti...ermons-pastors

[Steve Epley]

Ted Cruz made a great speech. Regardless of political party, ethnicity, race, denomination as Americans we need to stand against this invasion of liberty.

[FlamingZword]

This is just the beginning of the fight by the homosexual extremists, they are already threatening Christians with the loss of jobs and business if they speak up.

This is another attempt at intimidating or bullying the Christians into silence.

expect more attacks like these to come up soon.

just watch the news.

[Abiding Now]

Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Ted Cruz made a great speech. Regardless of political party, ethnicity, race, denomination as Americans we need to stand against this invasion of liberty.

Yes, he is very good and principled, from what I have seen.

Here is another good interview on the subject.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH7hC_ZJMno