Pastors it has begun

[Revmitchell]

Officials with the city of Houston, Texas, who are defending a controversial ordinance that would allow men to use women’s restrooms now have demanded to see the sermons preached by several area pastors.

The recent move came in a subpoena from the city to pastors for copies of their sermons and other communications in the city’s legal defense of a “non-discrimination” measure that allows “gender-confused” people to use public restrooms designated for the opposite sex.

A lawsuit challenging Houston’s move alleges the city violated its own charter in its adoption of the Equal Rights Ordinance, which in May designated homosexuals and transgender persons as a protected class.


Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2014/10/major-u-s-city-demands-oversight-of-sermons/#ugbDBBAbd91XRtws.99

 

[Judith]

This ought to weed out some chaff from the wheat.

 

[Zaac]

This is silly.

The Pastors should now file a discrimination lawsuit because Houston officials aren't subpoenaing the "sermons" from mosques.

 

[Jedi Knight]

Officials with the city of Houston, Texas, who are defending a controversial ordinance that would allow men to use women’s restrooms now have demanded to see the sermons preached by several area pastors.

Houston's openly lesbian Mayor Annise Parker.

 

[Zaac]

Houston's openly lesbian Mayor Annise Parker.

So she is the one spearheading this whole transgenders can use the opposite bathroom? Foolishness.

 

[Jedi Knight]

So she is the one spearheading this whole transgenders can use the opposite bathroom? Foolishness.

I've seen Pastors and Christians protesting against her push but obviously she's not backing down.

 

[DMorgan]

Govt. intervention

Look, if we are truly serious about keeping the govco speech police out of the Church, give back the tax exempt status. Render unto Caeaser, then tell them to go away. Tax exempt allows them in the door.

 

[church mouse guy]

Look, if we are truly serious about keeping the govco speech police out of the Church, give back the tax exempt status. Render unto Caeaser, then tell them to go away. Tax exempt allows them in the door.

I disagree with you 100% about the taxes on churches. The power to tax is the power to destroy according to the Supreme Court, as you know. Freedom of conscience means that you cannot tax me for my freedom of conscience.

 

[Revmitchell]

Look, if we are truly serious about keeping the govco speech police out of the Church, give back the tax exempt status. Render unto Caeaser, then tell them to go away. Tax exempt allows them in the door.

The government is not allowed to do this even with tax exempt status. Anyway churches cannot give up tax exempt status since it is automatic.

 

[pinoybaptist]

Somewhere in the piles of laws in this country of laws there oughta be one that can be used against those see who knowingly trample on constitutionally guaranteed rights. I hope somebody, the ACLJ perhaps, or an incensed private lawyer, Christian or otherwise, stumbles upon such laws and turn the tables on people like this mayor and sue them all the the way to homelessness.

 

[Salty]

Officials with the city of Houston, Texas, who are defending a controversial ordinance that would allow men to use women’s restrooms now have demanded to see the sermons preached by several area pastors.

I would love to hear Joel Osteens views on this issue!

Look, if we are truly serious about keeping the govco speech police out of the Church, give back the tax exempt status. Render unto Caeaser, then tell them to go away. Tax exempt allows them in the door.

Tax exemption has nothing to do with it.
Even churches with tax exemption must follow city ordinances - ie building codes, fire codes, zoning, ADA, and ect....

 

[Jedi Knight]

I would love to hear Joel Osteens views on this

I believe it's don't ask don't tell.

 

[Jedi Knight]

USA Today article 2010 "Joel Osteen blesses Houston's new (gay) mayor Annise Parker".

 

[SaggyWoman]

If I gotta go, sometimes I use the opposite sex bathroom if the same sex bathroom is being used.

 

[gigabyte71]

The government is not allowed to do this even with tax exempt status. Anyway churches cannot give up tax exempt status since it is automatic.

I think you are wrong here. If you are part of some type of convention, you may be covered under their 501c3, but I don't think it is automatic.

Whenever government has their hand in anything, they will eventually try to control it. How many members do you think would stop giving if the 501c3 status were stripped away from their local church?

 

[Revmitchell]

I think you are wrong here. If you are part of some type of convention, you may be covered under their 501c3, but I don't think it is automatic.

Whenever government has their hand in anything, they will eventually try to control it. How many members do you think would stop giving if the 501c3 status were stripped away from their local church?

Churches have a special exemption under the IRS code. They do not need a 501c3 letter to be tax exempt.

 

[gigabyte71]

Churches have a special exemption under the IRS code. They do not need a 501c3 letter to be tax exempt.

Right, but that doesn't give members the ability to write of 'donations' to the church. You are referring to the actual church paying taxes.

 

[gigabyte71]

Churches have a special exemption under the IRS code. They do not need a 501c3 letter to be tax exempt.

Sorry, I spoke out of turn there. I had read the entire thing wrong.

 

[Revmitchell]

Right, but that doesn't give members the ability to write of 'donations' to the church. You are referring to the actual church paying taxes.

I can assure you that people do not give because they can write it off on their taxes. If the government starts messing with people and churches over this issue it will not just be put up with.

However, it doesn't matter. Those supeonas are not legal and would not stand up in court.

 

[Zaac]

If I gotta go, sometimes I use the opposite sex bathroom if the same sex bathroom is being used.

Me too. :laugh:

I'm not standing in line and waiting when there's a perfectly good bathroom not being used. But it has to be one of those where only one person can use it at a time.