A central Texas city on Wednesday became the 30th active jurisdiction in the state to ban abortion and declare itself a "sanctuary city for the unborn" when its commissioners unanimously passed an ordinance prohibiting the procedure.
Eastland, Texas, a city of about 4,000 residents located about 90 miles southwest of Fort Worth, became the 30th active jurisdiction in the state with such an ordinance, according to Texas Right to Life.
The ordinance does not penalize the woman seeking an abortion but instead "holds those who profit from taking the child's life" accountable, including the abortion doctor, Texas Right to Life said.
"Texas Right to Life applauds the efforts of Eastland's Pro-Life citizens in bold defense of Life, and urges other cities across Texas to join the growing movement to protect women and preborn children," the organization said in a statement.
The state's "sanctuary city for the unborn" movement began in 2019 when the city of Waskom – located just a few miles from Louisiana – passed a resolution prohibiting abortion and declaring itself a sanctuary city.
Nearly all of the sanctuary cities do not have abortion clinics. The exception is Lubbock, Texas, where voters earlier this year passed a measure banning abortion. After it passed, the Planned Parenthood clinic in the city stopped performing abortions.
Texas Right to Life includes a link on its website explaining how citizens can encourage their local politicians to support the concept.
City councils in Texas "are doing more to stop abortion than the entire U.S. Congress," Texas Right to Life says.
"You and your community can take matters into your own hands by petitioning your local government to protect unborn children," the website says. Referencing cities that have passed such resolutions, the website adds, "These victories occurred because citizens boldly asked their local governments to take a stand against Roe v. Wade and the abortion industry. You can follow their example and lead the way for your town to be the next 'Sanctuary City for the Unborn' in Texas."
Related:
'Landslide': Lubbock, Texas Voters Ban Abortion, Declare City a 'Sanctuary' for 'the Unborn'
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Estradaanton
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
