{"id":326683,"date":"2025-02-19T17:39:33","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T23:39:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=326683"},"modified":"2025-02-20T08:27:25","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T14:27:25","slug":"residents-another-texas-city-leaders-sanctuary-unborn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/residents-another-texas-city-leaders-sanctuary-unborn\/","title":{"rendered":"Residents of another Texas city urge local leaders to make it a ‘Sanctuary City for the Unborn’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this guest post are solely those of the guest author.\u00a0<\/i>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, the Mayor and Councilmembers of Hallettsville, Texas (pop. 2,756), were met with a chamber full of citizens interested in seeing their city pass a Sanctuary City for the Unborn (SCFTU) ordinance. At this meeting, a proposed ordinance written specifically for the City of Hallettsville was presented to the city leadership for their consideration. While this was the first time for the city council to hear such a presentation, leaders throughout the community have been working on the initiative since May 2024. <\/span><\/p>\n

Hallettsville resident David Smolik had heard about the ordinances passed in <\/span>Little River-Academy<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Muenster<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>Goliad County<\/span><\/a> and wanted to see his community pursue the same legislation. Smolik reached out to fellow Hallettsville resident Jerry Tanner, who is Chairman of the Lavaca Rise Up for Life Committee. After several months of investigation, the Committee determined that this initiative would be a worthwhile pursuit for the entire community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hallettsville Residents Speak Out<\/b><\/p>\n

Tanner was the first to sign the <\/span>online petition<\/span><\/a> in June 2024. When filling out the online petition, Tanner wrote:<\/span><\/p>\n

I want to see abortion further outlawed in the City of Hallettsville because I do not want to see any support offered for elective abortions. I want others to know the values and sentiments of our community. I want like minded citizens to defend unborn children in our community and support the needs of their families.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Since then, hundreds from Hallettsville have signed the petition, each giving their own reasons for why they want to see abortion further outlawed in their city. David Smolik stated:<\/span><\/p>\n

It is a scientific fact that human life begins at conception. Abortion kills a human being. This is why I support Hallettsville becoming a sanctuary for the unborn. This is also why I support a national ban on abortion with no exceptions. At every level of government, a human life\u2019s value should not be based on how or when that life was conceived.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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Hallettsville resident David Smolik encourages the Hallettsville City Council to consider making Hallettsville a Sanctuary City for the Unborn. (Photo: Mark Lee Dickson)<\/p><\/div>\n

When sharing why she wanted to see abortion further outlawed in her community, Ruth Rouse stated:<\/span><\/p>\n

Abortion destroys a human being at any stage of a pregnancy. Young women have been propagandized, manipulated, and desensitized to not consider the abortion process in any deep or profound way. With abortion not being an option for these misguided women, not only is the child protected, but the woman is protected from future mental angst, guilt, and trauma when she matures and fully grasps the full consequences of the deadly procedure. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Two lives are saved when abortion is not an option.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Cheryl Draper said:<\/span><\/p>\n

I want to see abortion outlawed in Hallettsville because I know just how much abortion can take from someone\u2019s life. I was an unmarried high school pregnant teen and I was demanded to have an abortion.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

I heard God say \u2018No abortion.\u2019 I did not do it and ran away from home. Forty years later that child is a pastor. Fifty-five years later he is a missionary in Ghana, Africa, and created 40 Jesus Schools of Discipleship across that country. God had a plan!<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The pro-life testimony shared at the city council meeting was no different. Andrew Pesek, who serves as the Pro-life Chairman of the Victoria Diocese with the Knights of Columbus, and Mike Johnson, a local attorney and president of Hallettsville Right to Life, were just a few of the Hallettsville residents who shared before their city council. <\/span><\/p>\n

Hallettsville Right to Life, which was founded in 1974, is one of the oldest pro-life organizations in the State of Texas. According to their bylaws, Hallettsville Right to Life exists \u201cto promote respect for the worth and dignity of all human life, including the life of the unborn child.\u201d Johnson shared how pro-life policies, like the \u2018sanctuary for the unborn\u2019 ordinances and the Texas Heartbeat Act had proven themselves to be effective at stopping abortions and saving lives. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Texas Heartbeat Act, which uses the same private enforcement mechanism, shut down abortion operations on unborn children with detectable heartbeats all across Texas back in September of 2021. The laws worked and they <\/span>saved lives<\/span><\/a>,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cWhen <\/span>Lubbock County<\/span><\/a> passed their prohibition on abortion trafficking using the same private enforcement mechanism as this ordinance would have, an abortionist in New Mexico reported that people in Texas had canceled their appointments. It was impacting his business. Praise God for that.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Laura Varela, a senior at Sacred Heart Catholic School, shared:<\/span><\/p>\n

I believe Hallettsville should become a Sanctuary City for the Unborn because we have to be the voice for all of those innocent babies who do not have one. We are all responsible for protecting not only the unborn children of God but all individuals on this Earth. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

By becoming a Sanctuary City for the Unborn, we not only advocate for the babies in the womb but also for the mothers and families who need our support to give their children the lives they deserve.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n