Houston withdraws subpoena for pastors’ sermons on homosexuality, gender identity

October 30, 2014

City officials in Houston have withdrawn subpoenas demanding that five pastors turn over “all speeches, presentations, or sermons related to ... homosexuality or gender identity prepared by, delivered by, revised by, or approved by you or in your possession.”

The five pastors are opponents of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, which was supported by homosexual and transgendered activists. Opponents of the ordinance had sued the city, claiming that city officials improperly disallowed a ballot initiative that would have given citizens the opportunity to vote to overturn the ordinance.

“It was never our intention to interfere with any members of the clergy and their congregants in terms of sermons, in terms of preaching what they believe is the word of the God that they serve,” said Mayor Annise Parker, according to an Associated Press report. “My whole purpose is to defend a strong and wonderful and appropriate city ordinance against local attack.”

 

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Further information:

• Court orders for Texas pastors' speeches withdrawn (AP)
• Houston subpoenas pastors, demands sermons on homosexuality, gender identity (CWN, 10/16)