Topic: Bring-Your-Gun-to-Church day

[Pablo de Fleurs]

Time to cling.

Luke 10:19 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁹ Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Houston Demands Oversight of Sermons
Campaign against pastors called 'Big Brother overlords' on a 'witch hunt'

Officials with the city of Houston, Texas, who are fighting for a controversial ordinance that would allow men to use women’s restrooms there now have demanded to see the sermons preached by several area pastors.

The recent move came in a subpoena from the city to pastors for copies of their sermons – and copies of other communications from the pastors to their congregations – in the city’s fight over a “non-discrimination” plan that allows “gender-confused” people to use whatever public restrooms with which they identify.

A legal action challenging the city’s move has developed because the city allegedly violated its own charter in the process of adopting the Equal Rights Ordinance, which in May designated homosexuals and transgender persons as a protected class.

Critics say the measure effectively enables sexual predators who dress as women to enter female public bathrooms, locker rooms and shower facilities. And a coalition of activists that includes area pastors filed suit Aug. 6 against the city and lesbian Mayor Annise Parker after officials announced a voter petition to repeal the measure didn’t have enough signatures to qualify for the election ballot.

Parker, who has acknowledged the ordinance is “all about me,” was legally married to her same-sex partner in California in January.

According to the Alliance Defending Freedom, which now has filed a motion to quash the city’s demands:

The motion to the court explains that the pastors are not party to the lawsuit, and the city’s strategy doesn’t meet the requirements of state law that demands such efforts “be reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence, not be overly broad, seek only information that is not privileged and relevant to the subject matter of the litigation, and not cause undue burden or harassment.”

The demands from the city simply fail to meet those requirements, the motion explains.

But the ADF said, “City officials are upset over a voter lawsuit filed after the city council rejected valid petitions to repeal a law that allows members of the opposite sex into each other’s restrooms. ADF attorneys say the city is illegitimately demanding that the pastors, who are not party to the lawsuit, turn over their constitutionally protected sermons and other communications simply so the city can see if the pastors have ever opposed or criticized the city.”

“City council members are supposed to be public servants, not ‘Big Brother’ overlords who will tolerate no dissent or challenge,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Erik Stanley. “In this case, they have embarked upon a witch hunt, and we are asking the court to put a stop to it.”

“The city’s subpoena of sermons and other pastoral communications is both needless and unprecedented,” said ADF Litigation Counsel Christiana Holcomb. “The city council and its attorneys are engaging in an inquisition designed to stifle any critique of its actions. Political and social commentary is not a crime; it is protected by the First Amendment.”

...
http://www.wnd.com/2014/10/major-u-s-city-demands-oversight-of-sermons/#swfOqpuxWhXxLlMT.01

[AlanS]

Time to cling.

Luke 10:19 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁹ Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Houston Demands Oversight of Sermons
Campaign against pastors called 'Big Brother overlords' on a 'witch hunt'

Officials with the city of Houston, Texas, who are fighting for a controversial ordinance that would allow men to use women’s restrooms there now have demanded to see the sermons preached by several area pastors.

The recent move came in a subpoena from the city to pastors for copies of their sermons – and copies of other communications from the pastors to their congregations – in the city’s fight over a “non-discrimination” plan that allows “gender-confused” people to use whatever public restrooms with which they identify.

A legal action challenging the city’s move has developed because the city allegedly violated its own charter in the process of adopting the Equal Rights Ordinance, which in May designated homosexuals and transgender persons as a protected class.

Critics say the measure effectively enables sexual predators who dress as women to enter female public bathrooms, locker rooms and shower facilities. And a coalition of activists that includes area pastors filed suit Aug. 6 against the city and lesbian Mayor Annise Parker after officials announced a voter petition to repeal the measure didn’t have enough signatures to qualify for the election ballot.

Parker, who has acknowledged the ordinance is “all about me,” was legally married to her same-sex partner in California in January.

According to the Alliance Defending Freedom, which now has filed a motion to quash the city’s demands:

The motion to the court explains that the pastors are not party to the lawsuit, and the city’s strategy doesn’t meet the requirements of state law that demands such efforts “be reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence, not be overly broad, seek only information that is not privileged and relevant to the subject matter of the litigation, and not cause undue burden or harassment.”

The demands from the city simply fail to meet those requirements, the motion explains.

But the ADF said, “City officials are upset over a voter lawsuit filed after the city council rejected valid petitions to repeal a law that allows members of the opposite sex into each other’s restrooms. ADF attorneys say the city is illegitimately demanding that the pastors, who are not party to the lawsuit, turn over their constitutionally protected sermons and other communications simply so the city can see if the pastors have ever opposed or criticized the city.”

“City council members are supposed to be public servants, not ‘Big Brother’ overlords who will tolerate no dissent or challenge,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Erik Stanley. “In this case, they have embarked upon a witch hunt, and we are asking the court to put a stop to it.”

“The city’s subpoena of sermons and other pastoral communications is both needless and unprecedented,” said ADF Litigation Counsel Christiana Holcomb. “The city council and its attorneys are engaging in an inquisition designed to stifle any critique of its actions. Political and social commentary is not a crime; it is protected by the First Amendment.”

...
http://www.wnd.com/2014/10/major-u-s-city-demands-oversight-of-sermons/#swfOqpuxWhXxLlMT.01

He's confused with the old days when we actually had rights. Before the NSA, Homeland Security. etc...

[Libertas]

They're just trying to do what Pres Obola gets away with.

Tell them their request is invalid and unconstitutional and fire up brimstone-ladden sermons denouncing their fascism.

[Pablo de Fleurs]

We Cannot Stop Speaking: A Response to Houston Mayor Annise Parker
by Jason K. Allen

October 14, 2014 is a day that may well live in infamy. On that day, news came of subpoenas issued under the direction of Houston Mayor Annise Parker for city clergymen to submit “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.”

The subpoena is the latest, and most troubling, development in the ongoing saga of Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO). The subpoena is manifestly antithetical to the First Amendment; it tramples underfoot religious liberty. Evangelical Christians have responded to Mayor Parker’s subpoenas with outrage—as well we should.

Yet, while news of the subpoenas should alarm us, it should not surprise us—such is indicative of our cultural moment. Evangelical Christians are becoming like corks of biblical conviction bobbing in oceans of moral relativism. This means for those of us holding to biblical convictions, Christianity is about to get really interesting.

For the church, though, the mayor’s handling of the First Amendment is secondary. Our handling of the Bible is primary. Our indignation over the mayor’s boldness must be displaced by passion and resolve of our own. We are called to speak the truth in love; to preach the Word in season and out. Ordinance or no ordinance, subpoena or no subpoena, First Amendment or no First Amendment, God’s Word doesn’t change—and our convictions must not change either.

That is why my concern is not so much Mayor Parker’s orchestration of velvet-gloved persecution. My concern is whether or not Christians will persist in having the courage of their convictions. This won’t be the last time the church encounters intimidation—for we are assured that all who desire godliness in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

And Mayor Parker isn’t the first ruler to threaten the church either. Here we learn from our apostolic forebears. Just as when the Temple authorities threatened Peter and John in Acts 4, their response must now be ours, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

And as we look to Houston, not only should the Apostles’ response be ours, but their prayer should be ours as well, “Now, Lord, take note of their threats and grant that we your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence.” After all, if it is sermons the mayor wants, it is sermons she should now get.

The irony in all of this is, Mayor Parker may have set her city back by stymieing religious liberty, while, unwittingly, moving the church forward, and positioning us more firmly in the apostolic tradition we own. We must now prove ourselves worthy of that tradition. And, whatever we do, like the besieged apostles, we must not stop speaking.

- See more at:

http://jasonkallen.com/2014/10/stop-speaking-response-houston-mayor-annise-parker/?utm_content=buffere2011&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer#sthash.lYdT1j60.dpuf

[Glock32]

The proper response is absolute undisguised indignation, followed by a triple dog dare for this bulldyke to send her goon squads breaking into churches.

[Libertas]

Houston has more than it's share of libiot trash...

I agree, dare them to send the goons, this could be the spark we've been waiting for...

 

ETA - Oh, Mayor Bulldyke retreated, denies any knowledge of subpoenas...yadda yadda yadda...issued by pro bono scumbags I am sure each and every one of which is a DemonRat hack...blah blah blah...

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/oct/15/houston-backs-off-church-sermon-subpoenas-in-trans/#!

Gutless Deviant!!!