City of Houston Retreats: Withdraws Subpoenas for Pastors' Sermon Notes, Private Messages

On October 29 the city of Houston withdrew its subpoenas for pastors’ notes and communications. 

On October 15 Breitbart News reported that the City of Houston subpoenaed the sermon notes and private communications of five city pastors to see what–if anything–they might have said to congregants about the city’s “Bathroom Bill” or Mayor Annise Parker (D), presumably in search of material expressing religious views critical of homosexuality.

The outcry against the city of Houston’s overreach was swift and loud–with Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott leading the charge.

Then, on October 29, Senator Cruz released a statement announcing that city officials were in retreat and had withdrawn the subpoenas.

Said Cruz:

Today is an answer to prayer. Last month the City of Houston issued a subpoena demanding that five pastors hand over their sermons and correspondence. Together, thousands rose up and told the City to withdraw the subpoena. Americans defended our right to worship freely without fear of government intimidation, sending a message that was so loud and strong the City of Houston could not ignore it. And the City of Houston complied, withdrawing the subpoenas altogether.

Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.