City of Houston Demands Oversight of Sermons

Campaign against pastors called ‘Big Brother overlords’ on a ‘witch hunt’

by Bob Unruh

Officials with the city of Houston, Texas, who are fighting for a controversial ordinance that would allow men to use women’s restrooms there 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 copies of other communications from the pastors to their congregations – in the city’s fight over a “non-discrimination” plan that allows “gender-confused” people to use whatever public restrooms with which they identify.

A legal action challenging the city’s move has developed because the city allegedly violated its own charter in the process of adopting the Equal Rights Ordinance, which in May designated homosexuals and transgender persons as a protected class.

Critics say the measure effectively enables sexual predators who dress as women to enter female public bathrooms, locker rooms and shower facilities. And a coalition of activists that includes area pastors filed suit Aug. 6 against the city and lesbian Mayor Annise Parker after officials announced a voter petition to repeal the measure didn’t have enough signatures to qualify for the election ballot.

Parker, who has acknowledged the ordinance is “all about me,” was legally married to her same-sex partner in California in January.