City of Houston subpoenas Pastors sermons

[KD5NRH]

Was there supposed to be a picture, or something?

Oops.

[LDB415]

I guess I should have specified the subpoena foolishness.

[VoiceofReason]

http://www.adfmedia.org/News/PRDetail/9349


HOUSTON – Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys have filed a motion in a Texas court to stop an attempt by the city of Houston to subpoena sermons and other communications belonging to several area pastors in a lawsuit in which the pastors are not even involved.

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.

When will enough be too much?

We are well past the first two boxes.

[MeMelYup]

Since when under the U.S. Constitution or Texas Constitution/law does a subpoena have the weight of a warrant?

[Cedar Park Dad]

Since when under the U.S. Constitution or Texas Constitution/law does a subpoena have the weight of a warrant?

?

[VoiceofReason]

http://mobile.wnd.com/2014/10/major-u-s ... f-sermons/

I could not find any information on this other than at blog type sites.

Does anyone know anymore.

This apparently involves the "gender neutral" bathroom bill that passed here in Houston and the recall petition that was not certified. Which was then followed by a lawsuit. This apparently is in response to that lawsuit.

Anyone see the "Lorde" Southpark tv show last week.

Someone with the courage needs to stand up and get the ball rolling to impeach Mayor Annise Parker.

By rejecting valid petitions then going after pastors she shows she believes she can do anything she wants now that she can’t run again.

The mere act of attempting impeachment and gathering as much support as possible will send a strong message to future mayors they can’t use the power of the office to browbeat those that oppose their personal agenda.

If she is successfully impeached it will send a message to the entire country like a shot across the bow that we have had enough.

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

Unbelievable. The American people no longer have the courage to stand up for themselves. The majority is allowing the minorities to run the country and they are changing it as fast as they can, any way they can, by hook or crook.

[Keith B]

The Robertson Family (Duck Dynasty) stated 'If the government officials want to know what's in a sermon, they should go to church and hear it.'

[LDB415]

I am all for impeachment and although I no longer live in the city limits will volunteer my time to help.

[The Annoyed Man]

The problem with Abbott's letter is that it isn't really a "cease and desist" letter. It is a strongly worded letter of a state official's displeasure the the city of Houston's behavior. It merely "calls on" and "urges" Houston to change course. That is all it is. It does not threaten any legal actions against Houston if Houston does not comply, and it is therefore toothless and wasn't strong enough.

Don't get me wrong. I'm glad he sent the letter. But it needed to include a threat that the state Attorney General's office would weigh in in court on behalf of the people's religious liberties if the city doesn't cease and desist. It contained no such threat.....at least in the copy I read.

Full text of the letter here: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/oa ... hp?id=4880.

It is in the public domain:

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 city 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

[KD5NRH]

The problem with Abbott's letter is that it isn't really a "cease and desist" letter. It is a strongly worded letter of a state official's displeasure the the city of Houston's behavior. It merely "calls on" and "urges" Houston to change course. That is all it is. It does not threaten any legal actions against Houston if Houston does not comply, and it is therefore toothless and wasn't strong enough.

Strikes me as a fairly well-veiled "sure would be a shame if anything bad was to happen to a lot of people's political careers."

[Cedar Park Dad]

Update: politicians now running scared, saying its the fault of a lawyer in a private firm...

[VoiceofReason]

Update: politicians now running scared, saying its the fault of a lawyer in a private firm...

I don't understand why people are not "up in arms" about this. I would expect something like this in a communist country or any country with a “dictator”.

The United States is the last place on earth I would expect this. I lot of men have died young fighting against governments that treat the people like this.

Have the people of the United States become so apathetic that they accept this kind of treatment from the government and politicians?

It doesn’t matter now if the city drops the subpoenas, the "gender neutral" bathroom bill or what they do. They have shown what they will do if given the chance.

Annise Parker should not have a political future. She should not even have a future in Texas. She should be impeached and encouraged to move out of Texas.

[Dragonfighter]

The problem with Abbott's letter is that it isn't really a "cease and desist" letter. It is a strongly worded letter of a state official's displeasure the the city of Houston's behavior. It merely "calls on" and "urges" Houston to change course. That is all it is. It does not threaten any legal actions against Houston if Houston does not comply, and it is therefore toothless and wasn't strong enough.

Strikes me as a fairly well-veiled "sure would be a shame if anything bad was to happen to a lot of people's political careers."

Recent experience has told me that preceding any legal action is an escalation. The first step is letting the offending party know they have done wrong and give them a chance to rectify.

[MechAg94]

Update: politicians now running scared, saying its the fault of a lawyer in a private firm...

I don't understand why people are not "up in arms" about this. I would expect something like this in a communist country or any country with a “dictator”.

The United States is the last place on earth I would expect this. I lot of men have died young fighting against governments that treat the people like this.

Have the people of the United States become so apathetic that they accept this kind of treatment from the government and politicians?

It doesn’t matter now if the city drops the subpoenas, the "gender neutral" bathroom bill or what they do. They have shown what they will do if given the chance.

Annise Parker should not have a political future. She should not even have a future in Texas. She should be impeached and encouraged to move out of Texas.

What were you expecting to see? City Hall in flames?

[KD5NRH]

What were you expecting to see? City Hall in flames?

Well, if you're taking requests, put me down for "businesses moving out in droves."