Pastors' sermons subpoenaed amid Houston Equal Rights Ordinance fight

[cali]

-
The City of Houston wants sermons from pastors engaged in the legal battle over the controversial equal rights ordinance.

In a subpoena to five members of the Houston Area Pastors Council, the city is requesting a long list of documents and communications. Among them are "all speeches, presentations, or sermons" related to the Equal Rights Ordinance and "all communications with members of your congregation" regarding it and the failed petition against it.

It is the city's latest move as it defends itself against a lawsuit filed in August requesting the ordinance be suspended.

Pastor Hernan Castano received a subpoena and believes his sermons are protected by the First Amendment.

<snip>

The fight over the anti-discrimination ordinance that passed in May has included protests and petition drives. Thousands of signatures were deemed invalid, which led to the lawsuit.

Some signatures were acquired at churches which make the sermons fair game, according to City Attorney Dave Feldman.

<snip>

http://abc13.com/news/pastors-sermons-subpoenaed-amid-hero-fight/350929/

[Seeking Serenity]

1. This is bad. This is ugly

From what I've read and heard from family in Houston, these subpoenas are being served on pastors who aren't even parties to the litigation.

You asked in another thread why the apparent rightward shift in this country? Maybe because of optically stupid crap like this.

Good grief. Liberals, and I'm not sure the mayor and city attorney can even be called liberals after this, are our own worst enemies sometimes.

[liberalhistorian]

2. I totally and completely agree

and cannot imagine what was in the minds of those who are responsible for the subpoenas. This is absolutely WRONG. And as a seminary student, you'd better believe that if someone tried to subpoena my sermons and work product involving them they could shove it up their ass and prepare for a fight. I don't care WHAT the damned reason is. And if it were the other side doing this, we'd all be screaming bloody murder here. So why is it okay when WE do the same thing?

[Seeking Serenity]

3. You asked, "So why is it okay when WE do the same thing?"

Read my sig line, a passage from George Orwell's essay, "On Nationalism," to understand why some people will think this is perfectly OK when they'd scream bloody murder if it was a Republican mayor and Episcopalian or UU pastors.

[liberalhistorian]

7. Very, very true.

Frighteningly true.

[cali]

4. well, the republicans do equally "optically stupid crap"

even more frequently.

[Seeking Serenity]

5. Maybe so.

But it doesn't seem like as much this election season.

[cali]

6. not maybe. definitely. and it's more stupid and more prevailent

We have repuke congressmen saying that Obama is infecting the U.S. with ebola on purpose.

[Seeking Serenity]

9. All right. I'm with you there.

But, one reason why this episode of lawfare in Houston, if it becomes a national story, is so bad optically is that it looks to go to the heart of a fundamental freedom most people in this country still hold dear. The power of the state being used, this time by a supposed liberal, the mayor of Houston, to compel pastors who aren't even parties to the underlying litigation (it would be very different, of course, if these pastors were among the plaintiffs in the case) to turn over copies of sermons and communications with their congregants.

[liberalhistorian]

8. Yes, they do, indeed,

so much so that I think people are becoming numb to their epic and dangerous stupidity, unfortunately. But that does not mean that it's okay for US to do the same thing, not at all.

[Dr. Strange]

10. Wow.

That is so fucked up.

[Seeking Serenity]

11. Kicking for exposure

[Dr. Strange]

12. Update: Mayor and City Attorney are backing down

Amid outrage from religious groups, Mayor Annise Parker and City Attorney David Feldman on Wednesday appeared to back off a subpoena request for the sermons of certain ministers opposed to the city's equal rights ordinance, with Parker calling it overly broad.

The subpoenas, handed down to five pastors and religious leaders last month, came to light this week when attorneys for the group of pastors filed a motion to quash the request. Though Feldman stood behind the subpoena in an interview Tuesday, he and Parker said during the Mayor's weekly press conference Wednesday that the wording was problematic.

http://www.chron.com/news/politics/houston/article/Parker-calls-ERO-sermon-supboeana-overly-broad-5824816.php

[razorman]

13. This was really stupid. But, aside from violating the First Amendment,

I wonder if they requested the sermons of local imams and rabbis, as well.