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Persecution in the US Has Begun
My friends, the persecution of Christian pastors has begun in this country. We previously warned about the efforts of the Freedom from Religion Foundation and its secretive settlement with the IRS allowing them to demand sermons to scrutinize for “political activity.” Well, it has indeed happened, in one of the reddest of red states in the reddest county in America: Houston, Harris County, Texas.
As reported by Fox News, “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 city’s subpoena of sermons and other pastoral communications is both needless and unprecedented,” Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Christina Holcomb said in a statement. “The city council and its attorneys are engaging in an inquisition designed to stifle any critique of its actions.” ADF, a nationally-known law firm specializing in religious liberty cases, is representing five Houston pastors. They filed a motion in Harris County court to stop the subpoenas arguing they are “overbroad, unduly burdensome, harassing, and vexatious.”
If there is anything that should unify Americans, it should be an assault on Christian ministers. It is absolutely amazing that the Obama administration sends a personal congratulatory note to the Islamic center in Oklahoma that spawned Alton Nolen who beheaded a 54-year-old American grandmother — and we have this openly lesbian progressive socialist tyrant allowing a subpoena against Christian pastors.
This is the test case (and as it happens I was just in Houston last week and will be back next Monday) and this is unconscionable! However, if this case is successful, it will be replicated elsewhere — and where is the Left screaming out about First Amendment rights of these pastors: “Freedom of religion and the free exercise thereof?” Where is the ACLU? After all, they care so much about the rights of unlawful enemy combatants aka Islamic jihadists and terrorists.
“Political and social commentary is not a crime,” attorney Holcomb said. “It is protected by the First Amendment.” Fox says, “the subpoenas are just the latest twist in an ongoing saga over 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.”
This is just how upside down Mayor Parker is and reflects her intent to establish a radical far left, gender-blind agenda and through coercion and intimidation, destroy any opposition – including church leaders. This is the tyranny of the Left and the radical gay agenda in full display. And I just have to ask, how does this bring anyone into alignment with the gay community if they are fully supportive of these initiatives?
Houston is home to Pastor Joel Osteen and I wonder if he’s going to make a stand and speak out — or is his ministry just for show? I can bet that just up the road in San Antonio, Pastor John Hagee won’t be taking this lying down. And what about Pastor T.D. Jakes up in Dallas — where does he stand?
Many people laughed when the progressive socialists came out with their “Turn Texas Blue” campaign – who’s laughing now? The State Capitol of Texas, Austin, is well known as a bastion of progressive socialists and now look at what’s happened in Houston — perhaps Gov. Rick Perry should stop going to Blue states and asking them to move to Texas. Leftist progressives are like locusts; wherever they migrate they bring along their destructive policies and agenda in order to infest their new host — just look at how the migration of leftist progressives from California has affected Colorado? And now it’s happening to Texas.
Here’s a clear example of the radical gay agenda and tyranny of Houston Mayor Parker. Per Fox, “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.” As voter referendums supporting traditional marriage are being tossed aside by courts, judicial activism and legislating from the bench is alive and well.
“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. However, they were part of a coalition of some 400 Houston-area churches that opposed the ordinance. The churches represent a number of faith groups – from Southern Baptist to non-denominational.”
Mayor Parker won’t explain why she wants to inspect the sermons — and what makes her believe she has the power to do so anyway. Mayor Parker’s director of communications, Janice Evans, said “We don’t comment on litigation.”
Fox reports that “ADF attorney Stanley suspects the mayor wants to publicly shame the ministers. He said he anticipates they will hold up their sermons for public scrutiny. In other words – the city is rummaging for evidence to “out” the pastors as anti-gay bigots. 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. “This is an attempt to chill pastors from speaking to the cultural issues of the day,” Riggle told me. “The mayor would like to silence our voice. She’s a bully.” Rev. Dave Welch, executive director of the Texas Pastor Council, also received a subpoena. He said he will not be intimidated by the mayor.”
I’ve said before that America is under assault from the unholy alliance of progressive socialists, Islamo-fascists, and secular humanists. What is happening in Houston is wrong on so many levels, it defies logic and reason but it is to be expected from the tyranny of the Left.
If Mayor Parker is successful, it will happen in other major American cities under radical progressive socialist control. It is time for all — especially Christian Pastors — to stand up, “be strong and courageous,” and defy this illegal edict reminiscent of Henry the Eighth, who proclaimed himself head of state and head of church.
Mayor Annise Parker is out of control, and knowing the backbone of true Texans and Houstonians, she will be defeated. To the gay community, if this is what you support and believe in, you’re not positively advancing your case – but demonstrating you advocate coercion as a means.
Time to rally America, and let’s send a message to Mayor Annise Parker of Houston: Molon Labe!
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Seek on
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A friend in Sunday School mentioned this law about transgenders being allowed to use either restroom, whether dressed as that sex or not. But I believe she was mentioning another state having passed this law. She also said their rape statistics have drastically increased.
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Permalink Reply by Tammy on
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Texas Attorney General tells Houston city hall: Stop bullying Christians
NOW PLAYINGExclusive: Houston subpoenas pastors to turn over sermons
Stop bullying people of faith.
That’s the bottom line of a harshly-worded letter written by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott to Houston City Attorney David Feldman.
Feldman’s office sent subpoenas to five Houston pastors last month demanding that they turn over any sermons dealing with homosexuality and gender identity issues. They also wanted sermons or correspondence that referenced Annise Parker, the city’s first openly lesbian mayor.
I’m not buying the mayor’s so-called change of heart – not one bit.
The subpoenas were issued in a response to a lawsuit related to Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO), also known as the “Bathroom Bill.”
Abbott called the subpoenas “aggressive and invasive” and said they show “no regard for the very serious First Amendment considerations at stake.”
“Whether you intend it to be so or not, your action is a direct assault on the religious liberty guaranteed by the First Amendment,” Abbott wrote, demanding that the subpoenas be rescinded.
“You should immediately instruct your lawyers to withdraw the city’s subpoenas,” he added.
Late Wednesday, the city issued a statement to the Wall Street Journal:“Mayor Parker agrees with those who are concerned about the city legal department’s subpoenas for pastor’s sermons. The subpoenas were issued by pro bono attorneys helping the city prepare for the trial regarding the petition to repeal the new Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO) in January.
Neither the mayor nor City Attorney David Feldman were aware the subpoenas had been issued until yesterday. Both agree the original documents were overly broad. The city will move to narrow the scope during an upcoming court hearing. Feldman says the focus should be only on communications related to the HERO petition process.”
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However, as of the writing of this column, the subpoenas have not been rescinded.
Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Christina Holcomb said there is no evidence to suggest the city is “backing off” or “narrowing” its subpoena request.“The shame that the city of Houston has brought upon itself is real, but the claim that it has changed course is not,” she said. “The city has so far taken no concrete action to withdraw the subpoenas.
Furthermore, the subpoenas themselves are the problem – not just their request for pastors’ sermons. The city is not off the hook from its illegitimate request for e-mails, text messages, and other communications in which these pastors, who are not even party to this lawsuit, may have disagreed with the mayor. The way to fix this is to withdraw the subpoenas entirely. Otherwise, the city’s and the mayor’s overtures are simply more window-dressing intended to shield them from public scrutiny.”
Abbott accused lawyers representing the city of being “inappropriately aggressive.”
“In good faith, I hope you merely failed to anticipate how inappropriately aggressive your lawyers would be,” he said. “Many, however, believe your actions reflect the city government’s hostility to religious beliefs that do not align with city policies.”
To call Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance “controversial” is an understatement. The ordinance was approved by the City Council but never submitted to voters for approval.
The sticking point for many churches was a provision in the ordinance that would (among other things) allow men who identify as women to use the restrooms of their choice – and vice versa.
Dave Welch, the executive director of the Texas Pastor Council, is one of the five ministers who received a subpoena. He said he will not be intimidated by the mayor.
“My answer to that is – bring it on,” he told me on Tuesday. “We are dealing with bullies used to getting away with abuse of power.”
Rev. Welch and Attorney General Abbott support something I explore in my new book, “God Less America.” This is a situation where those who preach tolerance and diversity are the least tolerant and diverse of all.
Abbott called on City Hall to act immediately 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.”
I’m not buying the mayor’s so-called change of heart – not one bit.
On Wednesday, she took to Twitter to express what I believe are her true feelings.
“If the 5 pastors used pulpits for politics, their sermons are fair game,” Parker tweeted.
And during a Wednesday afternoon press conference she was less than contrite when a reporter asked why it was necessary to subpoena sermons.
“One word in a very long legal document which I knew nothing about and would never have read – and I’m vilified coast to coast, it’s a normal day at the office for me,” she said with a chuckle.
Mayor Parker got her hand caught in the religious liberty cookie jar.
“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,” Abbott wrote. ‘Nothing short of an immediate reversal by your office will provide that security.”
If nothing else, this shameful episode has exposed the fact that Houston City Hall is infested with anti-Christian bigots who bully preachers in the name of equality.
Todd Starnes is host of Fox News & Commentary, heard on hundreds of radio stations. Sign up for his American Dispatch newsletter, be sure to join his Facebook page, and follow him on Twitter. His latest book is "God Less America."
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Permalink Reply by ScribeD on
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Believe it or not, there are many Christians who have been praying the God would send persecution to America. They believe we will only become strong when there is persecution.
I guess what startled me is that it seems that few, if any, Christians in Houston stood by these pastors and spoke up about this attempt to control their sermons. Twenty years ago it would have caused an outrage throughout the city.
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It seems to me that so many Christians are looking to Christ returning that they've given up hope that more might turn to Christ through all of this. Just as we individually go through trials that strengthen us, America is in a trial. Will it come back stronger or will it give into the trial and collapse? We need another William Seymour to rise up and lead this country into seeking God rather than giving in to hope.
Romans 9:1-4
I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites.
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