HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM…AND A CONSTITUTION!
- By Alliance Defending Freedom
- Posted Oct 15, 2014
- 50 Comments
By Emily Conley, Social Content Editor
Actually, Houston, we have several problems:
The city of Houston passed a law that would allow members of the opposite sex to use each other’s restrooms, in the name of “prohibiting discrimination,” known as HERO (Houston Equal Rights Ordinance).
Voters weren’t so thrilled, and responding by petitioning to repeal the ordinance or at least, put it up for a vote. They got over 50,000 signatures, more than three times the required number. The city secretary, (who is entrusted by law to examine and certify petitions)certified them as sufficient.
But the mayor and city attorney defied the law, claimed less than the required number of signatures was valid – and threw out the petition.
In response, several petitioners organized a lawsuit.
That didn’t sit too well.
The city attorneys issued subpoenas to five pastors, demanding they turn over any speeches, writings, or sermons on gender identity, homosexuality, or mentioning the mayor, Annise Parker, who identifies as a lesbian.
The pastors are not party to the lawsuit. Asking them to 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, violates the First Amendment.
In response to the outrage, the mayor tweeted that if pastors had talked about these political issues, they are “fair game”:
One of the pastors, Steve Riggle, senior pastor of Grace Community Church, said; “This is an attempt to chill pastors from speaking to the cultural issues of the day. The Mayor would like to silence our voice. She’s a bully.”
Another of the five, Rev. David Welch, stated, “We’re not afraid of this bully. We’re not intimidated at all. We’re not going to yield our First Amendment Rights. This is absolutely a complete abuse of authority.”
“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.
Our attorneys have filed a motion to stop this attempt by the city of Houston.
But we need your help! Here’s what you can do:
- Now, more than ever, we need pastors to rise up and speak the truth on the issues of today. Encourage your pastor to join the Pulpit Freedom movement!
- Stand with the Houston Five (the five pastors) and spread the word by sharing on Facebook or Twitter. Click here for Facebook, and here for Twitter, using the hashtag #4Houston5.
- Let the city of Houston know that this is a problem! Share on Facebook here and onTwitter here, using the hashtag #4Houston5.
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Author: Alliance Defending Freedom
My comments: NOTHING is out of the purview of God Almighty. What the Secular Humanists call Politics does not exempt it from the purview of God and His Word.The Homosexual issue is addressed PLAINLY by God in His Word. And it is the duty of every Preacher to preach what God says in His Word. Christ Jesus is God Almighty and He WILL NOT BE SILENCED.
No comments:
Post a Comment