Abbott signs bill protecting sermons from subpoenas

[corbe]

Abbott signs bill protecting sermons from subpoenas

Gov. Greg Abbott has signed into law legislation shielding pastors' sermons from government subpoena power.

by Patrick Svitek May 21, 2017 3 hours ago
 
THE WOODLANDS — Gov. Greg Abbott has signed into law legislation shielding pastors' sermons from government subpoena power.

Senate Bill 24 stemmed from the 2014 battle over Houston's anti-discrimination ordinance, when the city subpoenaed sermons of five pastors who opposed it. The legislation was a priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who joined Abbott on Sunday for a bill-signing ceremony at the churches of one of those pastors.

“Texas law now will be your strength and your sword and your shield," Abbott said, invoking Bible verse as he addressed the 11 a.m. service at Grace Church. "You will be shielded by any effort by any other government official in any other part of the state of Texas from having subpoenas to try to pry into what you’re doing here in your churches."

Authored by state Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, SB 24 says a government cannot "compel the production or disclosure of a written copy or audio or video recording of a sermon delivered by a religious leader during religious worship ... or compel the religious leader to testify regarding the sermon." It went into effect immediately when it was formally signed by Abbott on Friday in Austin.

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https://www.texastribune.org/2017/05/21/abbott-signs-bill-protecting-sermons-subpoenas/

[geronl]

Something that should be protected by the first amendment

[Wingnut]

Something that should be protected by the first amendment

Wouldn't have needed it if It weren't for that Bulldyke Houston mayor Parker subpoenaing  sermons under the HERO ord.

[corbe]

   @Wingnut Houston does seem to have the lesbian Mayor affliction, 16 of the last 34 years they have been governed by them.