View Full Version : City of Houston demands pastors turn over sermons
hollohas
10-14-2014, 18:36
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/14/city-houston-demands-pastors-turn-over-sermons/
Is this even America anymore??? What is happening to this country?
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.
The Houston Chronicle reported opponents of the ordinance launched a petition drive that generated more than 50,000 signatures – far more than the 17,269 needed to put a referendum on the ballot.
However, the city threw out the petition in August over alleged irregularities.
After opponents of the bathroom bill filed a lawsuit the city’s attorneys responded by issuing the subpoenas against the pastors.
The pastors were not part of the lawsuit. ...
Among those slapped with a subpoena is Steve Riggle, the senior pastor of Grace Community Church. He was ordered to produce all speeches and sermons related to Mayor Annise Parker, homosexuality and gender identity.
The mega-church pastor was also ordered to hand over “all communications with members of your congregation” regarding the non-discrimination law.
Great-Kazoo
10-14-2014, 18:42
NO ONE WANTS TO CONFISCATE YOU GUNS. No one in this administration wants to confiscate your guns. All we are asking for is common sense laws to prevent this from happening, again.
When they came for me it was too late.
ETA: isn't this the same state people say will never turn blue?
Most churches post audio and sometimes video recordings of recent Sunday sermons.
Just out of principal, I would hope most of the pastors would politely refuse just to force the issue before a judge. At some point those subpoenas get quashed and the city ordinance gets re-written or ignored.
Without reading or knowing what the statute says, if I think discriminating thoughts, will that place me in violation of the law? [Sarcasm2]
Rooskibar03
10-14-2014, 18:48
Bring on the Ebola. We need to thin the herd a bit.
Bailey Guns
10-14-2014, 19:05
So much for those who argue gays aren't looking for special privileges...they just want to be treated equally. I think not. This doesn't surprise me at all.
ETA: isn't this the same state people say will never turn blue?
Yep...people on this forum are constantly portraying TX as some conservative haven. Frightening.
sneakerd
10-14-2014, 19:10
It's absolutely insane. Totally 1984.
Great-Kazoo
10-14-2014, 19:20
So much for those who argue gays aren't looking for special privileges...they just want to be treated equally. I think not. This doesn't surprise me at all.
Yep...people on this forum are constantly portraying TX as some conservative haven. Frightening.
We found As advertised, 40 Flat acres Below snow line (included in the brochure) west of lewiston.
Located another place north west of St George Utah, behind the mormon curtain.
Guy called me from NE, he knows a place [pop. 90] with out buildings for $35K. If the weather (humidity and ice storms) weren't an issue we would have inked a deal this morning.
balyon885
10-14-2014, 19:28
No more freedoms anymore.
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.
Um...What? How does that even pass? I can't comprehend this.
Complete violation of the first amendment. WTF!!!
It's absolutely insane. Totally 1984.
This in spades ^^^^^^.
north west of St George Utah
Beware that area. It is about 100 miles due east and a direct downwind area from the Nevada National Security Site, otherwise known as the open air nuke testing grounds. All of that dust went due east and there are documented increased risks of cancer due to exposure to the soil in the area. Just FYI.
Zundfolge
10-14-2014, 20:50
I would hope most of the pastors would politely refuse...
I would hope most pastors would reply with a Greek phrase that we've been using in the gun rights community for years; Molon Labe.
Force this carpet munching bigot to order their arrests so that instead of simply filing an injunction against her subpena, the pastors will have actual damages and they can sue the living shit out of her. Make the arrests brutal enough and you could awaken the liberty tree refreshers ... too bad there's no Esso stations in Houston.
hollohas
10-14-2014, 20:50
I would hope most pastors would reply with a Greek phrase that we've been using in the gun rights community for years; Molon Labe.
I know mine would.
But like cstone said before, they are all posted online away. The city of Huston could get them easily if that's what they really wanted. But this is about control and the city's obvious hatred of the churches.
hurley842002
10-14-2014, 20:51
We found As advertised, 40 Flat acres Below snow line (included in the brochure) west of lewiston.
Located another place north west of St George Utah, behind the mormon curtain.
Guy called me from NE, he knows a place [pop. 90] with out buildings for $35K. If the weather (humidity and ice storms) weren't an issue we would have inked a deal this morning.
The short time I was in St. George, I was very fond of it. Unfortunately my wife lived in Vegas for a few years, and I can't convince her to move back to the desert.
XC700116
10-14-2014, 21:35
And the same people would flip the fawk out at the mere suggestion that someone should keep an eye on some of these radical mosques. Absolutely unreal. This woman, and every single person that proposed, went along with, and executed both this law and this follow up should instantly be thrown from office. I can't believe there isn't people knocking down the doors of city hall over this.
buffalobo
10-14-2014, 21:52
Um...What? How does that even pass? I can't comprehend this.
I thought the wife was gonna lose it when I showed it to her. She cranked off a sweet little rant.
Great-Kazoo
10-14-2014, 22:13
No more freedoms anymore.
Only for those willing to stay complacent.
HoneyBadger
10-14-2014, 22:16
Only for those willing to stay complacent.
And compliant.
Only for those willing to stay complacent.
...which isn't freedom so the short answer is, NO.
Sounds like it's time for the government to roll out the thought police.
Great-Kazoo
10-14-2014, 22:20
...which isn't freedom so the short answer is, NO.
Sounds like it's time for the government to roll out the thought police.
We get the government we deserve. There's only one box left after the ballot.
Had enough diversity yet?
Great-Kazoo
10-14-2014, 23:01
Had enough diversity yet?
This isn't about diversity, it's about appeasement. Soon the locals become accepting of what ever shit the local or fed .gov wants to ram down our throat. Browse the Prop 105 / GMO thread in L&P. It all starts with someone wanting to make sure everyone else sides with their mind set. It's the first step, no one wants to ban. Its for, BULL SHIT. THAT'S WHAT IT'S FOR.
I was referring to the historically recent phenomenon of electing people based on their minority status rather than their character, motives, leadership ability, past accomplishments, etc.
After-all, stereotypes are based on truth.
I am amused when people act all shocked by politicians actions.
Nuts. Lots of crazy stuff going on lately
speedysst
10-15-2014, 07:44
Did the subpoenas include mosques or just Christian churches? Heck I may move there just so I can use the women's rest room! Houston should be careful what it wishes.
The people of Houston's elected representative to Congress: http://jacksonlee.house.gov/
As Great Kazoo stated: People get the government they elect.
Be safe
HoneyBadger
10-15-2014, 07:51
The people of Houston's elected representative to Congress: http://jacksonlee.house.gov/
As Great Kazoo stated: People get the government they elect.
Be safe
Good Lord.... [Puke]
Great-Kazoo
10-15-2014, 08:50
Good Lord.... [Puke]
I don't think the .gov reps were thinking of him / her when they issued the subpoena
This is gonna get good.
Maybe Masterpiece Bakery here can get some more tips but they already have a pistol for a lawyer. :):)
Whistler
10-15-2014, 12:11
I was shocked how how blue Houston, Austin (well not Austin), Dallas, San Antonio... most of the large cities had become when I moved back here. I think this action on the part of the [radical Lesbian] mayor is ill-advised as it's purely political in nature. The city attorney David Feldman is also implicated in having intervened to disqualify a citizen petition from bringing the city ordinance to vote in November. While the demographic in Houston tends blue this is related to a city ordinance approved by the city council and not the voters. Much like the 11th hour decision by a Liberal judge (U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos of Corpus Christi ) to overturn Texas voter ID laws, the Dems are pulling out all the stops to take this state. Based on the polls I've seen and the folks I've spoken with, it won't happen this election cycle.
PugnacAutMortem
10-15-2014, 12:14
Looks like George Orwell only missed his 1984 vision by 30 years. Not a bad guess for a cat who wrote the book in the late 40s.
He wrote the book in 1948 and when he was thinking about when this dystopian future would take place, he just reversed the last two numbers. The book was published in 1949. The irony with Orwell is that he was quite the leftist/socialist.
sellersm
10-15-2014, 13:57
Let's not forget "Atlas Shrugged"! Rand accurately predicted many of these things going on today... As mentioned, there needs to be some serious lawsuits immediately in Houston over this atrocity. And for those who believe in prayer, now's a good time to increase your prayers!!
hollohas
10-15-2014, 14:36
Heck I may move there just so I can use the women's rest room! .
I have two daughters. If I ever see a dude follow them into the bathroom, law or no law, even if that dude is wearing a dress and heals and "identifies as a woman", there will be hell to pay.
Great-Kazoo
10-15-2014, 16:12
Based on the polls I've seen and the folks I've spoken with, it won't happen this election cycle.
Even that is not reassuring. When tejas goes blue, the Union as we know it will start it's fragmentation.
Let's not forget "Atlas Shrugged"! Rand accurately predicted many of these things going on today... As mentioned, there needs to be some serious lawsuits immediately in Houston over this atrocity. And for those who believe in prayer, now's a good time to increase your prayers!!
I point that out all the time, when I read Atlas Shrugged I didn't pay any attention to when it was written. After the first few chapters I was expecting sometime in the last 20 years so I was pretty surprised.
Jeffrey Lebowski
10-15-2014, 17:52
He wrote the book in 1948 and when he was thinking about when this dystopian future would take place, he just reversed the last two numbers. The book was published in 1949. The irony with Orwell is that he was quite the leftist/socialist.
He was, but he was also very anti-authoritarian, which is a very peculiar twist on "leftist / socialist."
Anyway, how many times have we told everyone to look at this:
50947
The techniques differ slightly, but the overall strategy is similar. Welcome to blue, Texas.
Up next, Arizona.
Great-Kazoo
10-15-2014, 18:01
He was, but he was also very anti-authoritarian, which is a very peculiar twist on "leftist / socialist."
Anyway, how many times have we told everyone to look at this:
50947
The techniques differ slightly, but the overall strategy is similar. Welcome to blue, Texas.
Up next, Arizona.
Aridzona , NM and CA were already lost. Texas is in denial. Hell they still believe Texas is the biggest state in the Union. Till you tell them you're from ALASKA!
Whistler
10-15-2014, 19:23
Frozen lakes don't count, everybody knows that. If you melt it down some it's not much bigger than Rhode Island! [fail]
Afraid you may be right on the blue funk, that may just be a matter of timing.
Pastors should demand that interested parties attend the service if they are interested in what is being preached.
hollohas
10-15-2014, 19:29
Pastors should demand that interested parties attend the service if they are interested in what is being preached.
This was my first though. Invite them to hear the sermons first hand.
Well ebola is only a couple hundred miles away. There may be some Darwin effects hitting there any day.
HoneyBadger
10-15-2014, 19:49
Well ebola is only a 1 hour flight away. There may be some Darwin effects hitting there any day.
FIFY
Great-Kazoo
10-15-2014, 21:11
Pastors should demand that interested parties attend the service if they are interested in what is being preached.
How quickly everyone forgets what happened last time a .gov official attended a church sermon.
https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608031979180328851&pid=15.1&P=0
The Rev. Wright is wrong.
hollohas
10-16-2014, 07:32
As TheBlaze previously reported, Feldman told KTRK-TV (http://abc13.com/news/pastors-sermons-subpoenaed-amid-hero-fight/350929/) earlier this week that he believed that the gathering of signatures at local churches against the equal rights ordinances makes examining sermons an entirely appropriate response.
“If they choose to do this inside the church, choose to do this from the pulpit, then they open the door to the questions being asked,” he told the outlet.
Feldman also said on a separate occasion (http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/houston/article/City-subpoenas-sermons-in-ERO-court-case-5822800.php), “If someone is speaking from the pulpit and it’s political speech, then it’s not going to be protected.”
So apparently, according to this city attorney, if you say something inside a church as opposed to elsewhere, it's not protected. Oh, and political speech is especially not protected. Unbelievable.
Dems can fill busses with people, give them pre-filled out example ballots showing them what to vote for, drop them off at the booth and that's totally cool. But the second a group off people get together and agree to sign a pentition while standing inside a building with a cross on it...that's got to be investigated.
Zundfolge
10-16-2014, 08:25
But the second a group off people get together and agree to sign a pentition while standing inside a building with a cross on it...that's got to be investigated.
Only if the petition is conservative. Liberals are allowed to do all the politicking in their churches that they want.
End justifies the means ya know.
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