Changes

Despite what the laws officially say, observers have seen an increased intolerance towards biblical Christians, whose views—while being completely legitimate and sincere—are leaving the cultural mainstream because of the leftward, secular, and anti-Christian drift of American culture.

Despite what the laws officially say, observers have seen an increased intolerance towards biblical Christians, whose views—while being completely legitimate and sincere—are leaving the cultural mainstream because of the leftward, secular, and anti-Christian drift of American culture.

For example, in a government report released in 2016, Martin R. Castro, the chairman of the U.S. [[Commission on Civil Rights]], stated that "The phrases “religious liberty” and “religious freedom” will stand for nothing except hypocrisy so long as they remain code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Christian supremacy or any form of intolerance."<ref>{{cite news|last=Showalter|first=Brandon|date=Setpember 9, 2016|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/religious-freedom-code-word-bigotry-christian-supremacy-us-civil-rights-commissioner-martin-castro-169370/ |title=Religious Freedom Is 'Code Word' for Bigotry, Christian Supremacy, US Civil Rights Commissioner Says|work=The Christian Post|accessdate=January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Kellner, Mark A. (September 8, 2016). [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/sep/8/religious-freedom-religious-liberty-just-code-word/ ‘Religious freedom,’ ‘liberty’ just ‘code words’ for intolerance, U.S. Civil Rights chairman says]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://religionnews.com/2016/09/08/chairman-of-u-s-commission-on-civil-rights-calls-the-phrases-religious-liberty-and-religious-freedom-code-words-for-discrimination-intolerance-racism-s/ Chairman of U.S. Commission on Civil Rights calls the phrases ‘religious liberty’ and ‘religious freedom’ code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, and Christian supremacy]. ''Religion News Service''. September 8, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Carter, Joe (September 13, 2016). [https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/u.s.-civil-rights-commission-religious-freedom-is-code-word-for-racism-homophobia-and-christian-supremacy U.S. Civil Rights Commission: ‘Religious Freedom’ Is Code Word for Racism, Homophobia, and ‘Christian Supremacy’]. ''The Gospel Coalition''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref>

For example, in a government report released in 2016, Martin R. Castro, the chairman of the U.S. [[Commission on Civil Rights]], stated that "The phrases “religious liberty” and “religious freedom” will stand for nothing except hypocrisy so long as they remain code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Christian supremacy or any form of intolerance."<ref>{{cite news|last=Showalter|first=Brandon|date=Setpember 9, 2016|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/religious-freedom-code-word-bigotry-christian-supremacy-us-civil-rights-commissioner-martin-castro-169370/ |title=Religious Freedom Is 'Code Word' for Bigotry, Christian Supremacy, US Civil Rights Commissioner Says|work=The Christian Post|accessdate=January 9, 2017}}</ref><ref>Kellner, Mark A. (September 8, 2016). [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/sep/8/religious-freedom-religious-liberty-just-code-word/ ‘Religious freedom,’ ‘liberty’ just ‘code words’ for intolerance, U.S. Civil Rights chairman says]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://religionnews.com/2016/09/08/chairman-of-u-s-commission-on-civil-rights-calls-the-phrases-religious-liberty-and-religious-freedom-code-words-for-discrimination-intolerance-racism-s/ Chairman of U.S. Commission on Civil Rights calls the phrases ‘religious liberty’ and ‘religious freedom’ code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, and Christian supremacy]. ''Religion News Service''. September 8, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Carter, Joe (September 13, 2016). [https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/u.s.-civil-rights-commission-religious-freedom-is-code-word-for-racism-homophobia-and-christian-supremacy U.S. Civil Rights Commission: ‘Religious Freedom’ Is Code Word for Racism, Homophobia, and ‘Christian Supremacy’]. ''The Gospel Coalition''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref>

In 2014, the mayor of [[Houston]], a leftist and the first openly-homosexual mayor of the city, briefly issued subpoenas on pastors, ordering them to turn over sermons concerning homosexuality.<ref>Starnes, Todd (October 14, 2014). [http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/14/city-houston-demands-pastors-turn-over-sermons.html City of Houston demands pastors turn over sermons]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Starnes, Todd (October 29, 2014). [http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/29/houston-mayor-drops-bid-to-subpoena-pastors-sermons.html Houston mayor drops bid to subpoena pastors' sermons]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Hallowell, Billy (August 3, 2015). [http://www.theblaze.com/news/2015/08/03/houston-pastors-hit-back-against-mayor-with-lawsuit-alleging-their-religious-freedoms-were-trampled/ Houston Gov’t Subpoenaed Pastors’ Sermons. Now, They’re Fighting Back.] ''The Blaze''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref>

In 2014, the mayor of [[Houston]], a leftist and the first openly-homosexual mayor of the city, briefly issued subpoenas on pastors, ordering them to turn over sermons concerning homosexuality.<ref>Starnes, Todd (October 14, 2014). [http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/14/city-houston-demands-pastors-turn-over-sermons.html City of Houston demands pastors turn over sermons]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Starnes, Todd (October 29, 2014). [http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/29/houston-mayor-drops-bid-to-subpoena-pastors-sermons.html Houston mayor drops bid to subpoena pastors' sermons]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Hallowell, Billy (August 3, 2015). [http://www.theblaze.com/news/2015/08/03/houston-pastors-hit-back-against-mayor-with-lawsuit-alleging-their-religious-freedoms-were-trampled/ Houston Gov’t Subpoenaed Pastors’ Sermons. Now, They’re Fighting Back.] ''The Blaze''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref>