Texas Tells Liberal Supremes, Pols, Prez And Nation That Marriage Is A Biblical, State's Rights Issue

Common Sense Commentary: My Comments Follow this article. RB

Texas House Passes Pastor  Protection Bill, Gov. Abbott  Ready to Sign Today, the Texas House passed the Pastor  Protection Bill, SB 2065, with bipartisan support and without amendments, 141-2, with two Democrats voting against the bill. The bill protects pastors, ministers, clergy and churches from being forced to perform marriage ceremonies that violate their sincerely held religious beliefs. The bill has already passed the Texas Senate and after a vote tomorrow that is considered essentially procedural, SB 2065 will be headed to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk. Gov. Abbott has stated his  support for the bill and his intention to sign the bill. Jonathan Saenz, President of Texas Values Action, made the following statement: "Texas made an important decision today to  specifically protect the religious freedom of  our pastors and churches that follow their  beliefs on marriage. Government at any level  should not be allowed to punish our clergy  and churches for following their faith on  marriage. We are thankful for the pastors,  churches and church leaders from all across  the state that have led in this effort and have  demonstrated the very real threats to  religious freedom from those seeking to  redefine marriage. We also thank Rep. Scott  Sanford and Sen. Craig Estes and leaders in  the House and Senate for their hard work in  getting this bill passed. Passing the Pastor  Protection Bill sends a clear message that  Texas respects the religious freedom of  those whose foundation is their faith. We  look forward to Gov. Abbott signing the bill  into law." Pastors from all over the state came to testify in favor of the bill in both House and Senate committee hearings. Testimony included pastors who have been asked to perform a same-sex ‘marriage’ and Houston 5 pastors who were subpoenaed by the Mayor of Houston for their beliefs related to the issue of marriage. The Southern Baptist of Texas Convention, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, The Texas Catholic Conference, Texas Pastor Council and many other pastors, including Dr. Tony Evans of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, Pastor Jack Graham of Prestonwood Baptist Church, Pastor Bob Jones of the Texas Black Clergy Network, Pastor Steve Branson of San Antonio, pastors from the Cowboy Churches, and many others voiced their support for the billl. In addition to the great leadership shown by bill authors Rep. Scott Sanford and Sen. Craig Estes, we also want to thank the numerous House and Senate sponsors of the bill and House Republican Caucus Chairman Tan Parker. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick is to be commended for his effort to ensure the filing and passage of SB 2065 in the Senate. Finally, we are also grateful for the support of Attorney General Ken Paxton.
_____________________________ States Rights carry as much force, in the U.S.  Constitution as do Federal Rights. RB The Tenth Amendment to the United States  Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights,  was ratified on December 15, 1791.[1] It  expresses the principle of federalism, which  undergirds the entire plan of the original  Constitution, by stating that the federal  government possesses only those powers  delegated to it by the Constitution. All  remaining powers are reserved for the  states or the people. In drafting this  amendment, its framers had two purposes in  mind: first, as a necessary rule of construction;  and second, as a reaffirmation of the nature  of the federal system.[2] (Wikipedia) Within the U.S. Constitution is the  Bill Of Rights.Here are the 9th and  10th Ammendments of theBill Of  Rights  Amendment IX The enumeration in the Constitution, of  certain rights, shall not be construed to  deny or disparage others retained by  the people. Amendment X The powers not delegated to the United  States by the Constitution, nor prohibited  by it to the states, are reserved to the  states respectively, or to the people It should be obvious to any honest, intelligent person that the ONLY powers delegated to the Federal Government, in the U.S. Constitution, are those specifically written in the text of that document. No such power is stated, as regards marriage, most especially same sex marriage, which was anathama to the founding fathers who penned th at foundation of law in these United States. Marriage, therefore, and every other subject or issue which might arise, not plainly deligated to the Executive, Legislative or Judicial branches of the Federal Government is totally within the power of the several states, which is "The People" of those states. Since marriage was devised by God Himself in Genesis, marriage is a spiritual matter and should not be perverted by either the Federal or State Governments. RB "And the LORD God said, It is not good  that the man should be alone; I will make  him an help meet for him...." And the LORD  God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam,  and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and  closed up the flesh instead thereof;  And the  rib, which the LORD God had taken from  man, made he a woman, and brought her  unto the man. And Adam said, This is now  bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she  shall be called Woman, because she was  taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man  leave his father and his mother, and shall  cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one  flesh." Genesis 2:18-24.