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Astros' Lance Berkman Wades into Fight over LGBT Ordinance

CBN

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Pastors in Houston are rallying church members to vote on an LGBT nondiscrimination ordinance that could put the chill on religious liberty.

The city's openly lesbian mayor, Annise Parker, promoted the ordinance last year, resulting in a city council vote to approve it.

After city pastors organized a signature drive to put the ordinance on the ballot, the mayor surprised them by declaring the signatures invalid.

When the pastors sued, the mayor subpoenaed five pastors' sermons, then later backed off.

Houston voters will have the chance to approve or disapprove the ordinance in a city election next Tuesday, Nov. 3. A diverse coalition of Houston pastors say they're extremely concerned that it will infringe on religious liberty and allow sexual predators in women's restrooms as a result of ordinance language on gender identity.

"We are not people that discriminate. That's not America. But now we are being discriminated against," Dr. Ed Young, senior pastor of Houston's Second Baptist Church, told CBN News.

"We're talking about an ordinance that will criminalize, will put someone in jail or force them to lose a business just because of their faith," Hernan Castano, senior pastor of Rivers of Oil Church, explained to CBN News.

Under the ordinance, the city of Houston can criminally charge and fine a Christian business owner who refuses to serve a gay wedding because of their beliefs.

The city could also fine any business owner for refusing to allow a man entrance into a woman's restroom.

Pastors aren't alone in their objection to the ordinance.

Former Houston Astros baseball player Lance Berkman publicly criticized the ordinance. He recorded a radio spot saying it discriminates against "people who believe, like me, that members of the opposite sex should not be forced to share restrooms or locker rooms."

Mayor Parker then targeted him in a barrage of Twitter messages, criticizing Berkman for opposing the ordinance and even calling him a hypocrite for playing in Dallas, which does have a non-discrimination ordinance.

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