HOUSTON (AP) — U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz says the city of Houston has no legal or moral authority to subpoena sermons from pastors who may have opposed the city’s equal rights ordinance from their pulpits.

The Texas Republican, invoking a biblical reference today at Houston’s 1st Baptist Church, says Caesar has no jurisdiction over the pulpit.

Christian activists have sued after city officials ruled they didn’t collect enough signatures on petitions to put a referendum on the ballot to repeal the ordinance championed by Houston’s lesbian mayor, Annise (a-NEES’) Parker.

Parker and city attorneys have acknowledged the subpoenas may have been poorly written but so far have not withdrawn them.

Cruz calls the subpoenas stunning and unconstitutional.

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