U.S. Senator Ted Cruz held a quickly arranged press conference, 11:15 this morning, in Houston's First Baptist Church located in North Houston.

Cruz, who attends First Baptist, addressed dozens of pastors, various politicians and the local media, along with some interested community members, regarding the city's recent subpoena requiring a number of local pastors to submit sermons and notes related to homosexuality and gender identity. The hot-button issue comes after Houston's city council approved a controversial Equal Rights Ordinance and then reportedly tossed a referendum petition by the opposition.

Cruz's remarks centered on "religious liberty" and expressed a fervent support of "the men and women of God who have been called forth to speak the truth no matter the consequences."

"Today we all stand united in the defense of religious liberty and in defense of the pastors of Houston," he noted. "The City of Houston's subpoenas demanding that pastors provide the government with copies of their sermons is both shocking and shameful. For far too long, the federal government has led an assault against religious liberty, and now, sadly, my hometown of Houston is joining the fight. This is wrong."

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