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Pastor Protection Bill in House State Affairs on Wednesday

April 17, 2015
Topic: Legislature

Pastor tape over mouth (620w)

4-21 Update:  We will be gathering tomorrow with Pastors and supporters of the bill at 1:00 PM on the North Steps of the Capitol to give updated information and then will move over to the Reagan Building before the hearing begins (the hearing will be in Room 140 of the John H. Reagan Building). You can also feel free to stop by our office at 900 Congress Ave, Suite 220 (2 blocks south of the Capitol) if you are in Austin earlier.

Please note that the hearing itself will begin AFTER the House session adjourns, which could be between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm.  You will need to plan on being there all day.  It is a sacrifice and inconvenient – but if we aren’t willing to take a stand for our religious freedom, no one else will.

Original post:

On Wednesday, April 22, the House State Affairs will have a public hearing on important legislation, HB 3567, that protects Texas pastors, churches and religious organizations on the issue of marriage. We need a strong showing in support of religious freedom at the hearing. The hearing will be at 10:30 AM or upon final adjournment in the House State Affairs committee in Room 140 of the John H. Reagan building on the north side of the Capitol on the capitol grounds.

The Pastor Protection Bill, authored by State Rep. Scott Sanford (R-McKinney and a pastor himself), makes it clear in state law that the First Amendment rights of clergy, pastors and churches in Texas apply to the issue of marriage. The bill ensures that the government may not force a pastor, a clergy member or church to perform a marriage or related ceremony that would violate their sincerely held religious beliefs.

Pastors and churches should not have to live in fear that the government will force them to perform marriages that violate their religious beliefs. With the Supreme Court set to take up marriage later this year, many faith leaders are now concerned about the threat of continuing government intrusion and infringement on these issues. HB 3567 makes it clear that Texas should remain a place where government respects the rights of pastors and churches to hold the Biblical view of marriage.

Please help support this important bill by taking the following action steps:

House State Affairs Committee:

Chairman Byron CookByron.Cook@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0730
Rep. Helen GiddingsHelen.Giddings@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0953
Rep. Tom CraddickTom.Craddick@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0500
Rep. Marsha FarneyMarsha.Farney@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0309
Rep. Jessica FarrarJessica.Farrar@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0620
Rep. Charlie GerenCharlie.Geren@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0610
Rep. Patricia HarlessPatricia.Harless@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0496
Rep. Dan HubertyDan.Huberty@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0520
Rep. John KuempelJohn.Kuempel@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0602
Rep. René OliveiraRene.Oliveira@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0640
Rep. John T. SmitheeJohn.Smithee@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0702
Rep. Sylvester TurnerSylvester.Turner@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0554

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