Quarantine Houston
FASCISM! ON! THE! MARCH!
From Fox News, Todd Starnes reporting, we learn [tip of the fedora to Darleen Click]:
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.”
…
The subpoenas are just the latest twist in an ongoing saga over the 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.
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.
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.
…
…ADF attorney [Erik] 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.
So along with the national government, we can add the City Of Houston to the list of those government entities that are no longer to be considered legitimate.
Where there is The Rule Of Law, there is legitimacy.
Where Whim, Capriciousness, and Impulsiveness are the fuel that runs the engines of government, there can be no legitimacy.
—Liberty Or Slavery, 04 August 2014
Houston, Texas is an outpost of Fascism, infected with Tyrannic Fever, and should be quarantined immediately.
It is a pitiful constitution indeed, which so far from being fixed and permanent as it should be — sacred and unalterable in the hands of those where the community has placed it, depends entirely upon the breath of a minister, or of any man.
—Samuel Adams, writing as ‘CANDIDUS’, Boston Gazette, 23 September 1771
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I hope these clergymen get together and refuse to comply and that further that the city then arrests them. That will make for must see TV.
I hope that’s exactly what happens. And then the Rightosphere takes it and runs with it.
That would be a show, all right.
Bob, the quote says that “The churches represent a number of faith groups – from Southern Baptist to non-denominational.” Are there any mosques down that way? Those ROPers have some pretty unfriendly views on BWLBs and GWLGs. If they weren’t on the list the authorities might look downright discriminatory. Or just plain scared.
I’d wager there are no Muslims being subpoenaed .
The authoriatian streak the left has comes out again.
Not surprising.
Eeyore views of the world make a lot more sense.
This is not fascism of just the Left or just the Right, this the step that comes after the establishment has made multiculturalism the State ideology. The Republican establishment has as much invested in multiculturalism as the Left. This is fascism in America, that is what America now is.
The Constitution states that “No government—City—County—State–or Federal shall pass any laws that infringe on the peaceful practice of relegion”. Also, Americans are guaranteed freedom of speech, provided we are not attempting to hurt anyone or cause anyone to be hurt, or civil disorder. To require a pastor or minister to submit his sermon to a city or government official for approval is illegal and unconstitutional….Therefore I submit any city official attempting to pass any ordinance that requires otherwise is in violation of the state and U.S. Constitution, and they need to be reminded of that fact. Any further attempt to enforce that type of ordinance should require immediate removal from the office they currently hold!
I second that. Personally, I’d tell them ” Go hang it in your ass.”
“Quarantine Houston” Or at least Cleveland!