Robert Pratt
It may be hard to believe but there is a story in Texas that is, in many ways, more important and indicative of a rising danger to our future, than the Ebola issue as serious as it is. Here it is in one headline: Houston mayor, city demands that pastors hand in their sermons on homosexuality or be held in contempt of court.
Robert Zimmerman put it this way: “Fascists: The city of Houston has issued subpoenas demanding that pastors hand in any sermons on the subjects of homosexuality, gender identity or the city’s first openly gay mayor Annise Parker or be held in contempt of court.”
“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,” FoxNews reported.
The only reason the city government and the mayor are demanding these sermons is to silence their opponents.
“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,” Riggle said.
Zimmerman summed it up well by saying “The only reason the city government and the mayor are demanding these sermons is to silence their opponents. Their actions are blatant violations of the first amendment and the freedom of speech, and are an effort to oppress any opposition to their own personal political agendas.”
This is serious; it is indicative of what the Left wants to do with us all. Long term we know where this goes: The end of freedom and locking people away for expressing dissenting opinions.
Democrats and leftists tell us often what they believe and Americans, for some reason, choose to not notice.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, today released the following statement responding to the City of Houston’s recent subpoena requiring pastors to submit sermons:
“I’m proud to stand with the pastors. Religious liberty is the very first protection in the Bill of Rights, the foundation of all of our liberties. The City of Houston’s subpoenas demanding that pastors provide the government with copies of their sermons is both shocking and shameful. For far too long, the federal government has led an assault against religious liberty, and now, sadly, my hometown of Houston is joining the fight. This is wrong. It’s unbefitting of Texans, and it’s un-American. The government has no business asking pastors to turn over their sermons. These subpoenas are a grotesque abuse of power, and the officials who approved them should be held accountable by the people. The Mayor should be ashamed. And we should all be proud to stand up and defend the pastors who are resisting these blatant attempts to suppress their First Amendment rights.”
If I were so worried about what the pastors are saying I might also worry about a few other things. Things like, is God really real? Is the Bible really what God wants to say to us? Are Heaven and Hell real places? Which one of those places will I end up at? Just a few harmless questions, nothing to hurt anyones feelings. What do you think?