ICC Note: In a case that ignited controversy across the country, Houston’s mayor has cancelled the cities attempt to subpoena sermons from area pastors on the topic of homosexuality and gay marriage. The sermons were demanded by the city after churches in Houston led a petition calling for the repeal of new anti-discrimination laws allowing, among other things, for people to use restrooms of the opposite sex based on their own gender identification. The subpoena has been widely viewed as an unconstitutional attempt by the cities mayor, Annise Parker, to silence Christians opposed to the legislation.
10/29/2014 United States (Fox News) – Subpoenas issued to five Houston pastors demanding all sermons and correspondence dealing with homosexuality, gender identity and the city’s Equal Rights ordinance have been withdrawn, the city’s first openly lesbian mayor announced at a Wednesday press conference.
“After much contemplation and discussion, I am directing the city legal department to withdraw the subpoenas issued to the five Houston pastors who delivered the petitions, the anti-HERO petitions, to the city of Houston and who indicated that they were responsible for the overall petition effort,” said Mayor Annise Parker in remarks covered by television station KPRC.
My column on the issue sparked a bit of national outrage – well – a lot of national outrage. To be honest it was a full-scale hullabaloo. City Hall was deluged with telephone calls, letters, emails – along with hundreds of Bibles and sermons. More than 50,000 supporters signed a petition.
