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In the last few days there has been a furor over the information reported from Houston, that the lesbian Mayor Annise Parker has litigiously demanded several of Houston's pastors' sermons and the pastors' personal correspondence with congregants. The fracas is ongoing, and has been for a few years. I did write on Wednesday about the recent issue of the wide-net subpoena, here.
I'll recap, quoting excerpts from Al Mohler's excellent synopsis. Albert Mohler is an "American theologian and the ninth president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky" according to Wikipedia.
I'm going to put on my citizen hat for a moment. The government is supposed to serve us. To that end, many states have an Open Records policy. Texas does. It is called the Public Information Act. The purpose of such acts are described by the Texas Attorney General,
The People are not without resources. Government records are open precisely to push back against such bullying against the citizenry. Annise Parker has said that if any "pastor used the pulpit for politics, their sermons are fair game".
The Public can also request records. The Public does not have to lodge a suit, hire a lawyer, or go hat in hand. They may even examine records for FREE, if doing so inside the premises. There may be some REASONABLE costs for labor or copying fees.
The Public may demand any legally covered work-product from Annise Parker in her office as Mayor, or any Council member, or other elected or government official, to examine. The Public does not have to say who they are, or why they want it, or what they plan to do with it.
How do I know this?
I read the Texas Open Records Law.
The litigation lodged against the pastors is worded thus, again from Dr Mohler's essay:
'The attorneys working for the city demanded all sermons “prepared by, delivered by, revised by, or approved by you or in your possession” on matters that included, not only the mayor and the ordinance, but homosexuality and gender identity.
What if the public demanded, following Open Records protocols, in similar language, "all work-product, speeches, emails, correspondence, and other matter in the Houston Mayor's Office held by, produced by, overseen by, delivered by or otherwise retained in the Houston Mayor's possession or adjunct storage, on matters that include, references or discuss homosexuality and gender identity' ? If such a request legally falls under open records, the Mayor's office would have to produce it. PROMPTLY.
From Texas Attorney General Office FAQ:
The FAQ further states that the Mayor (or other government body) does not have the right to withhold records nor to make their own determination of what constitutes an open record.
For example, one time I requested under Open Records the products related to an issue in the School Department. In one illegally held document, eventually discovered, contended for, and produced, the School Department had bought a stamp and stamped in large red letters across the document, CONFIDENTIAL'. Simply self-stamping an open records document Confidential doesn't make it confidential, lol. But that kind of monkeying with language is going on in the fracas in Houston. The Mayor yesterday changed her demand from sermons to "speeches." Yes, this is an out-of-control government.
There are some exclusions from Open Records. The Judiciary, some personnel records, or negotiations/contracts are often excluded. This is reasonable. Other exclusions are listed specifically in the TX Handbook, linked below.
Again, Open Records are, by law in place to help the Public push back against aggressive or overly-authoritarian government bodies or elected officials. Its purpose is to help the citizenry keep the government transparent, and to educate the citizenry on issues in which the government is addressing on their behalf. I'm not speaking just about Houston but of all local and State and Federal public entities. Citizens (so far) still have rights. Whether the Government entity will adhere to the demands is a different story. A unexercised muscle will atrophy. Here is an example I was involved with.
In Maine, the Maine Society of Professional Journalists decided to test the muscularity of the Freedom of Access law by setting up an audit. (Detractors called it 'a sting').
The findings were depressing. The last audit had been in 1978. Between 1978 and 2002, governments had closed up considerably, and not to the benefit of the citizen.
From the Audit results: "A public records audit is a test of government compliance with public access laws, otherwise known as sunshine laws or right-to-know laws".
They trained us reporters in the Law, created three simple requests (one, I remember for example, was for local expense reports from the mayor or town Administrator, the police were asked to produce a police log, I think), and we were trained in what to say and not say. We were to leave if we were denied, and we were to make notes on whether we were asked who we were or why we wanted it. Requests were made to School Departments, Municipal Governments, and to Police.
In some cases, full compliance was given, in more cases though, access to records was denied. The findings plus comments and notes from the reporters were made public. Embarrassed and chastened, the State of Maine formed the Compliance Committee and tasked 12 people selected from around the state and employed by different public and private entities, to participate. I was one of the 12 appointed to this committee. We were to review Maine's FOA law and submit the report to the Legislative House and Senate for their denial or approval as an amendment to Maine's existing FOA law. We did so and the overhaul was accepted by the State Legislative body. Because of the Journalists' audit, and resulting action on the State of Maine, Maine's Freedom of Access law was strengthened on behalf of the citizens.
Government that is supposed to serve the public in transparent honesty had become very, very closed, guarded, and sometimes downright hostile to the people they were supposed to be serving. The audit had become necessary. Again, an unexercised muscle atrophies. Citizens, know your rights and use them from time to time.
So. Open Records, Houston. FAIR GAME.
Here are three resources which explain the Texas Open Records Law (Public Information Act). The first one is at the UTexas and is short. The second one is the FAQ from the TX State Attorney General. The third one is THE 2014 Handbook explaining the PIA from the AG's Office. It is 329 pages, but it has a Table of Contents, and segments of the law are stated then explained in real language.
If a person decides they want to obtain open records from any government office, there are a few things to remember, and I address this to the public at large and especially to Christians.
The personnel at the copy machines and secretaries and administrators who carry out the PIA requests are people. They deserve politeness and consideration.
Do your homework. If a person makes an Open Records request, know what is and is not legally available to you. Be considerate by having read the pertinent parts of the law and not making extra work for the people in the offices by having to figure out your request. As is stated in the FAQ, the receiving office does not have to answer your questions, interpret the law for you or otherwise provide information other than your specific, written request. One must not make make ridiculous or frivolous requests.
Records requested have to actually exist. General requests such as "Anything the Town Manager might email next week" will not fall under the Law.
Any person requesting information under PIA should be legible, specific, and polite. I've said polite three times now.
The citizenry has rights. We do have resources that protect us against aggressive governments. Though we as Christians do submit to our government leaders, as long as there are mechanisms in place to legally help the citizenry monitor our government, we should use them. When Apostle Paul was accused in Judea, as a Roman citizen he had a right to appeal to Rome and be tried there instead of Galilee or Jerusalem. Paul employed a mechanism that was available to him. (Acts 25:11, Acts 25:21, Acts 28:19). That is what these mechanisms are there for- to help the citizen obtain justice or for relief from an unjust or oppressive government.
Aggressive government is a pet peeve of mine. I'm speaking more as a temporary citizen of earth and less so as a Christian. But as a Christian, we should remember eventually in this age, it looks more and more like western Christianity has had its day. The threat of jail just for preaching the bible has become very real.
Here are the links:
Open Records Act / Texas Public Information Act
Frequently Asked Questions Relating to the Public Information Act
Public Information Handbook 2014: Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott
RECENT NEWS:
Sermons Are “Fair Game” in Houston — The Real Warning in the Subpoena Scandal
Mayor Parker revises, narrows sermon subpoena request
Houston to pastors: Forget your sermons, now we want your speeches
Texas Attorney General tells Houston city hall: Stop bullying Christians
[AG] Abbott called the subpoenas “aggressive and invasive” and said they show “no regard for the very serious First Amendment considerations at stake.” “Whether you intend it to be so or not, your action is a direct assault on the religious liberty guaranteed by the First Amendment,” Abbott wrote, demanding that the subpoenas be rescinded. “You should immediately instruct your lawyers to withdraw the city’s subpoenas,” he added.
 |
| Dr Albert Mohler |
I'll recap, quoting excerpts from Al Mohler's excellent synopsis. Albert Mohler is an "American theologian and the ninth president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky" according to Wikipedia.
When news broke earlier this week that the attorneys working for the City of Houston had issued subpoenas to pastors for sermons, I was fairly certain that some mistake had been made. When the actual text of the subpoena came to me, I could hardly believe my eyes. Here was a legal demand, sent to Christian pastors in the name of one of America’s largest cities, to surrender “all speeches, presentations, or sermons related to HERO (an anti-discrimination ordinance), the Petition, Mayor Annise Parker, homosexuality, or gender identity prepared by, delivered by, revised by, or approved by you or in your possession.”Dr Mohler said it is a 'breathtaking violation of religious liberty.' I agree. The horses are out of the barn and there is no recalling them. Now, any or all pastors can be bullied, threatened, or otherwise coerced into producing work product for out-of-control government thugs.
The controversy started when Mayor Parker, often described as the first openly gay mayor of a major American city, led the effort to adopt an anti-discrimination law that, among other things, allows transgender persons to file a complaint and bring charges if they are denied access to a bathroom. Several Houston-area pastors were involved in an effort to rescind the ordinance. They participated in a petition drive that would have put the question before voters, mobilizing their congregations on the issue. They were able to get more than the required number of signatures on the petition, but the city attorney ruled many of the signatures invalid due to technicalities. The city attorney intervened after the appropriate city official had already certified the petitions as adequate. This set the stage for the lawsuit, and the lawsuit set the stage for the subpoenas.
The subpoenas set the stage for the current controversy. The very fact that the subpoenas were issued at all is scandal enough — none of the pastors is even party to the lawsuit. But the actual wording of the subpoenas is draconian — almost unbelievable. The attorneys working for the city demanded all sermons “prepared by, delivered by, revised by, or approved by you or in your possession” on matters that included, not only the mayor and the ordinance, but homosexuality and gender identity.
 |
| TX Attorney General Greg Abbott |
"The purpose of the Public Information Act is to maintain the people’s control “over the instruments they have created.”
The People are not without resources. Government records are open precisely to push back against such bullying against the citizenry. Annise Parker has said that if any "pastor used the pulpit for politics, their sermons are fair game".
The Public can also request records. The Public does not have to lodge a suit, hire a lawyer, or go hat in hand. They may even examine records for FREE, if doing so inside the premises. There may be some REASONABLE costs for labor or copying fees.
The Public may demand any legally covered work-product from Annise Parker in her office as Mayor, or any Council member, or other elected or government official, to examine. The Public does not have to say who they are, or why they want it, or what they plan to do with it.
How do I know this?
I read the Texas Open Records Law.
The litigation lodged against the pastors is worded thus, again from Dr Mohler's essay:
'The attorneys working for the city demanded all sermons “prepared by, delivered by, revised by, or approved by you or in your possession” on matters that included, not only the mayor and the ordinance, but homosexuality and gender identity.
What if the public demanded, following Open Records protocols, in similar language, "all work-product, speeches, emails, correspondence, and other matter in the Houston Mayor's Office held by, produced by, overseen by, delivered by or otherwise retained in the Houston Mayor's possession or adjunct storage, on matters that include, references or discuss homosexuality and gender identity' ? If such a request legally falls under open records, the Mayor's office would have to produce it. PROMPTLY.
From Texas Attorney General Office FAQ:
What types of records are subject to the Public Information Act?I believe a City Mayor's office qualifies as a 'local government body' don't you?
Any information collected, assembled, or maintained by or for a governmental body is subject to the Public Information Act. The format (paper, electronic, microfilm, etc.) of the record does not affect its status as a public record.
What is a "governmental body"?
For purposes of the Public Information Act, the term "governmental body" encompasses all Texas public entities at the state and local levels.
The FAQ further states that the Mayor (or other government body) does not have the right to withhold records nor to make their own determination of what constitutes an open record.
For example, one time I requested under Open Records the products related to an issue in the School Department. In one illegally held document, eventually discovered, contended for, and produced, the School Department had bought a stamp and stamped in large red letters across the document, CONFIDENTIAL'. Simply self-stamping an open records document Confidential doesn't make it confidential, lol. But that kind of monkeying with language is going on in the fracas in Houston. The Mayor yesterday changed her demand from sermons to "speeches." Yes, this is an out-of-control government.
There are some exclusions from Open Records. The Judiciary, some personnel records, or negotiations/contracts are often excluded. This is reasonable. Other exclusions are listed specifically in the TX Handbook, linked below.
Again, Open Records are, by law in place to help the Public push back against aggressive or overly-authoritarian government bodies or elected officials. Its purpose is to help the citizenry keep the government transparent, and to educate the citizenry on issues in which the government is addressing on their behalf. I'm not speaking just about Houston but of all local and State and Federal public entities. Citizens (so far) still have rights. Whether the Government entity will adhere to the demands is a different story. A unexercised muscle will atrophy. Here is an example I was involved with.
In Maine, the Maine Society of Professional Journalists decided to test the muscularity of the Freedom of Access law by setting up an audit. (Detractors called it 'a sting').
The findings were depressing. The last audit had been in 1978. Between 1978 and 2002, governments had closed up considerably, and not to the benefit of the citizen.
From the Audit results: "A public records audit is a test of government compliance with public access laws, otherwise known as sunshine laws or right-to-know laws".
They trained us reporters in the Law, created three simple requests (one, I remember for example, was for local expense reports from the mayor or town Administrator, the police were asked to produce a police log, I think), and we were trained in what to say and not say. We were to leave if we were denied, and we were to make notes on whether we were asked who we were or why we wanted it. Requests were made to School Departments, Municipal Governments, and to Police.
In some cases, full compliance was given, in more cases though, access to records was denied. The findings plus comments and notes from the reporters were made public. Embarrassed and chastened, the State of Maine formed the Compliance Committee and tasked 12 people selected from around the state and employed by different public and private entities, to participate. I was one of the 12 appointed to this committee. We were to review Maine's FOA law and submit the report to the Legislative House and Senate for their denial or approval as an amendment to Maine's existing FOA law. We did so and the overhaul was accepted by the State Legislative body. Because of the Journalists' audit, and resulting action on the State of Maine, Maine's Freedom of Access law was strengthened on behalf of the citizens.
Government that is supposed to serve the public in transparent honesty had become very, very closed, guarded, and sometimes downright hostile to the people they were supposed to be serving. The audit had become necessary. Again, an unexercised muscle atrophies. Citizens, know your rights and use them from time to time.
So. Open Records, Houston. FAIR GAME.
Here are three resources which explain the Texas Open Records Law (Public Information Act). The first one is at the UTexas and is short. The second one is the FAQ from the TX State Attorney General. The third one is THE 2014 Handbook explaining the PIA from the AG's Office. It is 329 pages, but it has a Table of Contents, and segments of the law are stated then explained in real language.
If a person decides they want to obtain open records from any government office, there are a few things to remember, and I address this to the public at large and especially to Christians.
The personnel at the copy machines and secretaries and administrators who carry out the PIA requests are people. They deserve politeness and consideration.
Do your homework. If a person makes an Open Records request, know what is and is not legally available to you. Be considerate by having read the pertinent parts of the law and not making extra work for the people in the offices by having to figure out your request. As is stated in the FAQ, the receiving office does not have to answer your questions, interpret the law for you or otherwise provide information other than your specific, written request. One must not make make ridiculous or frivolous requests.
Records requested have to actually exist. General requests such as "Anything the Town Manager might email next week" will not fall under the Law.
Any person requesting information under PIA should be legible, specific, and polite. I've said polite three times now.
The citizenry has rights. We do have resources that protect us against aggressive governments. Though we as Christians do submit to our government leaders, as long as there are mechanisms in place to legally help the citizenry monitor our government, we should use them. When Apostle Paul was accused in Judea, as a Roman citizen he had a right to appeal to Rome and be tried there instead of Galilee or Jerusalem. Paul employed a mechanism that was available to him. (Acts 25:11, Acts 25:21, Acts 28:19). That is what these mechanisms are there for- to help the citizen obtain justice or for relief from an unjust or oppressive government.
Aggressive government is a pet peeve of mine. I'm speaking more as a temporary citizen of earth and less so as a Christian. But as a Christian, we should remember eventually in this age, it looks more and more like western Christianity has had its day. The threat of jail just for preaching the bible has become very real.
Here are the links:
Open Records Act / Texas Public Information Act
Frequently Asked Questions Relating to the Public Information Act
Public Information Handbook 2014: Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott
RECENT NEWS:
Sermons Are “Fair Game” in Houston — The Real Warning in the Subpoena Scandal
Mayor Parker revises, narrows sermon subpoena request
Houston to pastors: Forget your sermons, now we want your speeches
Texas Attorney General tells Houston city hall: Stop bullying Christians
[AG] Abbott called the subpoenas “aggressive and invasive” and said they show “no regard for the very serious First Amendment considerations at stake.” “Whether you intend it to be so or not, your action is a direct assault on the religious liberty guaranteed by the First Amendment,” Abbott wrote, demanding that the subpoenas be rescinded. “You should immediately instruct your lawyers to withdraw the city’s subpoenas,” he added.
Unfortunately this is not a surprising occurrence at all! What did we expect when most people were convinced that our Constitution said there was some kind of absolute separation between Church and State when nothing could be further from the truth. Those who founded our country had suffered under multiple theocracies and wanted to make sure that would not happen here.
ReplyDeleteIt was never the intent of the founding fathers to eliminate or to throttle religion. It was written to avoid our new Republic from becoming yet just another Theocracy controlling everything in our lives.
There was never an intention to separate God from our lives and to keep people from worshiping Him in every place and in every way possible. The thought that was somehow the Constitutions intent is ridiculous beyond any kind of reason. Just the opposite is true yet we have allowed this kind of thinking to gain a foothold and just check out where it has taken us.
And like the nose of the Camel under the tent we now see actions being taken that only twenty years ago would have been looked upon as a Marxist influence on our society yet today has become the norm.
If you correctly believe that God is not mocked then you will quickly see the lack of His blessings as they once were and recognize that He is not willing to continue to bless our nation when our nation has all but dismissed Him from our culture and our lives.
Historically, those who belong to the household of faith have been able to at times appeal to kings and rulers and the Lord worked to sometimes miraculously change their minds and bring about justice and relief.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that is at stake here Elizabeth is more about the failure of those who name Christ but in some measure have rebelled against His ruling authority.
Any "church" that has incorporated itself and become a not for profit organization 501(c)3 has willingly and knowingly placed themselves under the authority and jurisdiction of the IR(i)S.
Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.
Certain activities or expenditures may not be prohibited depending on the facts and circumstances. For example, certain voter education activities (including presenting public forums and publishing voter education guides) conducted in a non-partisan manner do not constitute prohibited political campaign activity. In addition, other activities intended to encourage people to participate in the electoral process, such as voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, would not be prohibited political campaign activity if conducted in a non-partisan manner.
On the other hand, voter education or registration activities with evidence of bias that (a) would favor one candidate over another; (b) oppose a candidate in some manner; or (c) have the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates, will constitute prohibited participation or intervention.
http://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Charitable-Organizations/The-Restriction-of-Political-Campaign-Intervention-by-Section-501%28c%29%283%29-Tax-Exempt-Organizations
This is the thing that is causing the blindness in leadership within the "church".
Do you think it strange that this is all happening in the state who's court decision was overturned by the U.S. Supreme court in the Roe vs Wade?
There is a definite connection in this. And the first Ebola case came to Dallas straight form Liberia? (the industry of abortion has increased or been bolstered the genetic development of biological agents Ebola was manufactured by Merck and weaponized).
Those 501 (c)3 organizations will not obtain protection from this until they turn away AND repent. It will not matter how many "good" people stand up and blat about their constitutional "rights".
Nahum 3 Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not;
ReplyDelete2 The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the pransing horses, and of the jumping chariots.
3 The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and there is none end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses:
4 Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.
5 Behold, I am against thee, saith the Lord of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.
6 And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock.
7 And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for thee?
8 Art thou better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers, that had the waters round about it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea?
9 Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite; Put and Lubim were thy helpers.
10 Yet was she carried away, she went into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets: and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.
11 Thou also shalt be drunken: thou shalt be hid, thou also shalt seek strength because of the enemy.
12 All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the firstripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater.
13 Behold, thy people in the midst of thee are women: the gates of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies: the fire shall devour thy bars.
14 Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strong holds: go into clay, and tread the morter, make strong the brickkiln.
15 There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the cankerworm: make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts.
16 Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and fleeth away.
17 Thy crowned are as the locusts, and thy captains as the great grasshoppers, which camp in the hedges in the cold day, but when the sun ariseth they flee away, and their place is not known where they are.
18 Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell in the dust: thy people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them.
19 There is no healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually?
So are any 'Christian lesbians' standing up to Parker and telling her to leave those pastors alone?
ReplyDeleteLOL, good one! We know that one cannot serve two masters, "Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both" Mt 6:24.
ReplyDeleteSo if a 'Christian lesbian' has to make a choice, she will stand with her sin and reject the pastor who calls her out on it. The unconverted always chooses their sin.
Very interesting; thanks for sharing your personal knowledge of the subject!
ReplyDeleteHakam!!! EXCUSE ME??? Would you mind being more specific? Your post lacked clarity, I hope!
DeleteThis is a bit late, but... I was referring to her investigative journalism. 'Personal knowledge' was meant to refer to her using her knowledge gained as a journalist, to write this (original reporting) article.
Delete