Currently, an effort is underway to pass a ‘Sanctuary City for the Unborn’ (SCFTU) Ordinance in the City of Amarillo, Texas.
The effort is one of several efforts across the Panhandle. The proposed Amarillo SCFTU Ordinance would, among other things, prohibit the practice of abortion trafficking — which is the taking of a resident of Amarillo to states like New Mexico or Colorado for an elective abortion. Cities and counties passing ordinances such as this is not anything new.
Texas cities that have passed ordinances prohibiting the abortion trafficking of residents within their communities include the cities of Abilene (pop, 124,407), Athens (pop. 13,121), Cisco (pop. 3,913), Little River-Academy (pop. 2,048), Odessa (pop. 125,413), Plainview (pop. 22,343), and San Angelo (pop. 101,612). Texas counties who have passed ordinances prohibiting such actions include Cochran County (pop. 2,547), Dawson County (pop. 12,130), Goliad County (pop. 7,012), Lubbock County (pop. 317,561), and Mitchell County (pop. 9,070).
A letter signed by Senators and Representatives across Texas in August of 2023 encouraged political subdivisions across Texas to consider “abortion trafficking” ordinances, followed by a letter signed by Senators and Representatives across New Mexico in October of 2023 urging the same.
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Despite the widespread support from both inside and outside the City of Amarillo, some elected officials at the local and state level have criticized the effort. Many of those criticisms have been addressed in the community. What has not been addressed, however, are concerns by some supporters of a local pregnancy center who believe that an ordinance prohibiting abortion trafficking would actually hurt pregnancy centers throughout the Panhandle of Texas.
These concerns merit a response.
The accusations are, as follows:
The First Accusation: The passage of an ordinance prohibiting abortion trafficking is not a good thing because it will hurt the way pregnancy centers help mothers and their unborn children, making it extremely difficult for counselors to talk to women seeking help.
The Second Accusation: The passage of an ordinance prohibiting abortion trafficking creates an environment where counselors at pregnancy centers or the pregnancy resource center itself could be sued for aiding or abetting an abortion. The accusation is this: If a counselor at a pregnancy resource center talks to a pregnant mother who still decides to go to New Mexico (or elsewhere) to get an abortion, the counselor who advised the pregnant mother or the pregnancy center itself could be sued for aiding or abetting an abortion.
The Third Accusation: The passage of an ordinance prohibiting abortion trafficking creates an environment whereby pregnancy centers throughout the Panhandle could be shut down. Fearing lawsuits could be filed against pregnancy centers for aiding or abetting an abortion, as in the example above, these opponents fear passage of an ordinance prohibiting abortion trafficking could financially devastate pregnancy centers, preventing them from ministering to the young girls who need their help.
The Fourth Accusation: The passage of an ordinance prohibiting abortion trafficking will cause the number of lives reached by pregnancy centers to go down.
The Fifth Accusation: The passage of an ordinance prohibiting abortion trafficking will negatively impact the overall donor financial support of pregnancy centers.
The Sixth Accusation: The passage of an ordinance prohibiting abortion trafficking will be used by the enemy to pit believer against believer and bring divisiveness into the Kingdom of God.
While there is no truth to any of these accusations, and each one of these accusations can be easily disproved, these objections are being circulated throughout the community by some supporters of a local pregnancy center.
In seeking to address these concerns, the Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn Initiative reached out to the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA), which is the largest pregnancy center membership organization in the country with nearly 1,800 members nationwide. NIFLA’s president Thomas Glessner, an attorney, responded to these concerns. Glessner stated, “Pregnancy centers can never be civilly sued or legally prosecuted for ‘aiding and abetting an abortion’ because they provide counsel and education to avoid abortions. This is, indeed, a very strange, confusing, and non-existent concern.” Glessner continued, “Further, the mission of pro-life pregnancy centers is to reduce abortions and empower mothers to choose life. The proposed Amarillo ordinance does this. It is a good thing. And its passage will actually increase the numbers of mothers seeking help at pro-life pregnancy centers as they seek out all of their options.”
The proposed ordinance referenced by Glessner (1) prohibits elective abortions and the aiding or abetting of elective abortions within city limits – extending the private enforcement mechanism found in the Texas Heartbeat Act from the point of detectable heartbeat to the point of conception, (2) prohibits elective abortions or the aiding or abetting of elective abortions on residents who live within the city limits – regardless of the location of the abortion, (3) prohibits the manufacturing, possession, or distribution of abortion-inducing drugs within the city limits, (4) prohibits the abortion trafficking of an unborn child and the aiding or abetting of the abortion trafficking of an unborn child within the city limits – making it illegal for abortion traffickers to use any roads or runways within the city limits, (5) prohibits the transport of the remains of unborn children who have been killed by an elective abortion from any abortion provider into the city limits, prohibiting also the disposal of such remains within the city limits, and (6) prohibits organizations seeking to profit off of the murder of innocent unborn children from operating or doing business within the city limits. These six provisions all do something that current law in Texas does not, and would make Amarillo one of the safest cities in Texas for pregnant mothers and their unborn children.
Pregnancy Centers Weigh In
The Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn Initiative reached out to nine different pregnancy centers throughout Texas to see if the passage of ordinances prohibiting abortion trafficking had any adverse effects on their pregnancy centers in Athens, Abilene, Cisco, Lubbock, Odessa, or Plainview. Every single pregnancy center affirmed the truth that their centers were helping more people now than ever before and expressed no negative consequences from the passage of their local ordinances.
The Nurturing Center Pregnancy Support Services in Lubbock, Texas, was asked if either the City of Lubbock’s Sanctuary City for the Unborn Ordinance or Lubbock County’s Sanctuary County for the Unborn Ordinance had hurt the way the Nurturing Center helps mothers and their unborn children. Executive Director Ellie Contreras shared, “I do not believe that the ordinance hurt our center. If anything, it has helped, because women know that we go above and beyond the delivery of their baby. Donors and people who learn about us share about our services and have supported the donations of baby items that we give to our clients.” Contreras was asked if the passage of the SCFTU ordinances has made it extremely difficult for counselors to talk to women who come in for help. Contreras said it has not.
When asked if SCFTU ordinances have shut down their pregnancy resource center from being able to minister to the young girls who come into their center, Contreras said they are more active now than they have ever been. Contreras replied, “I believe our numbers have increased since the State of Texas and the City of Lubbock have brought more awareness of our center and services. One of our services that I have seen growth in is the area of baby items.” Contreras explained, “We ask our clients to get involved with parenting classes so they earn points and those points can be redeemed for baby items. Here is a snapshot of how many moms we helped the past 3 years: in 2021 a total of 92 moms received baby items, in 2022 a total of 287 moms received baby items, and in 2023 a total of 308 moms received baby items.” Contreras shared that some of these visits were first visits, while other visits were repeated visits – stressing that the Nurturing Center has a reputation of helping women both during and after the pregnancy.
When asked if the ordinances had hurt the center’s funding, Contreras shared, “We have grown in our support from donors. I think they see the needs and want to be involved in helping young women and families.” Contreras was asked what she would say to those engaged in pro-life work at pregnancy centers who may be fearful that the ordinances could be used to pit believers against other believers and bring division. Contreras shared, “Don’t believe the lies that you hear. People are in the greatest need right now and our center will be there supporting pregnant women no matter what.”
For Her Women’s Medical Services in Lubbock, Texas, has also seen an increase in the number of lives reached at their pregnancy center. Executive Director Audra Cantrell shared, “At For Her Women’s Medical Services, we have continued to meet the needs of the women in our community! In 2023, we had 358 patients come for pregnancy testing, performed 329 ultrasounds, and had over 1,102 total patient visits to our clinic.”
The passage of the ordinance has also paved the way for new efforts to protect life in Lubbock, Texas. After the City of Lubbock became a ‘Sanctuary City for the Unborn’ in 2021, Pastors Johnny and Patricia Perez with Church of the Blessed International started a program at their church called Knitted In Love. The Knitted In Love Center was opened as a program to assist and mentor young mothers and fathers, to stand with them in their moments of uncertainty, and show them they are not alone. Knitted In Love goes out of their way to provide mothers and fathers with the basic needs of what a newborn baby needs in the first year of his or her life. The program has served over 175 young teenage mothers and babies. Knitted In Love also began a program that is called Man Up, a program focused on mentoring young fathers to be present in the life of their child and to be able to provide for the basic needs of their child. The program has been able to assist over 50 young fathers and show them that they are not alone in this journey. Knitted In Love is also seeing an increase of young mothers coming in monthly. This year they are partnering with local schools and are estimating over 75 young moms and young father’s will be assisted in the year 2024. Pastor Perez does not expect Lubbock County’s ordinance prohibiting abortion trafficking to negatively impact the services offered through Knitted In Love. In fact, Pastor Perez expects the ordinance to do the exact opposite.
When The Open Door Pregnancy and Family Resource Center in Cisco, Texas, was asked if the Cisco SCFTU Ordinance had hurt the way the pregnancy center helps mothers and their unborn children. Executive Director Shannon Thompson, shared, “Not at all. The two really have nothing to do with each other. I look at it like war. Wars are fought by different forces and in different ways. Pregnancy Resource Centers are the medics. We are on the frontline helping those who are caught in the crossfire.” Thompson was asked if the passage of the SCFTU ordinances makes it extremely difficult for counselors to talk to women who come in for help. Thompson shared, “It actually helps. Women come in and have many questions. They want clarity and truth. That’s what we did before and will continue to offer.”
When asked if the Cisco SCFTU Ordinance has shut down their pregnancy center from being able to minister to the young girls who come into their center, Thompson said, “Not at all. First, we did not get involved in politics. We never want to alienate anyone who might need our services. Our numbers continue to increase and we love everyone who walks through our door. Our staff is very open and caring. We listen more than we talk.” Thompson was asked what she would say to those engaged in pro-life work at pregnancy centers who may be fearful that the ordinance could be used to pit believers against other believers and bring division. Thompson shared, “Well, it is potentially true. It has already happened. The devil is a liar and thief. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy. As Christians, we have instruction in the Good Book to seek His truth. If we go to God’s Word and pray, He will give us truth and help us to be united for the goodness of His kingdom. It really comes down to education and seeking truth as we put aside pride.”
When asked if the passage of the Cisco SCFTU ordinance had a negative impact on their overall donor financial support, Thompson shared, “No, 2023 marked a record fundraising event with our banquet. Standing against abortion does not change the circumstances and reasons why people seek abortions. Their needs are real and need to be met. If anything, it increases those in need. Thus, putting a bigger responsibility on us as a whole to help meet those needs and support the mother and father. It is the job of pro life ministries to educate donors of those needs and the increased demand. The majority of mothers and couples that we see never thought of abortion until they found themselves in an overwhelming situation. These individuals are truly in an emotional crisis more than a pregnancy crisis. They have heard more information about how abortion is a quick and simple solution to this unexpected pregnancy than they have heard about all the resources, skills, tools, and avenues that will help them through a temporary struggle. Helping them to slow down, breathe, and take in information helps them to really consider the short and long range implications of their choice.” Thompson continued, “We spend years teaching our children not to make rash decisions without thinking it through. But when it comes to abortion, women are expected to hurry to make the decision. It is contradictory to what the Bible says and how we expect most other decisions to be made. Sanctuary cities help to slow things down and give mothers and fathers time to slow down, educate themselves, seek guidance, and make a more well-thought-out decision.”
When the Compassionate Care Pregnancy Center in Plainview, Texas, was asked if the City of Plainview’s SCFTU Ordinance had hurt the way the pregnancy center helps mothers and their unborn children, Executive Director SuNell Pyeatt, responded, “No, if anything it has helped us reach more mothers and their unborn children.” Pyeatt was asked if the passage of the SCFTU ordinances makes it extremely difficult for counselors to talk to women who come in for help. Pyeatt shared that the passage of the ordinance did not make it any more difficult for counselors to talk to women who come in for help at their center because their counselors were already trained to deal with any situation a client might find herself in. Speaking on how their counselors minister to women, Pyeatt affirmed, “Nothing has changed since passing the ordinance.”
When asked if the Plainview SCFTU Ordinance has shut down their pregnancy resource center from being able to minister to the young girls who come into their center, Pyeatt said that since the passage of the Plainview SCFTU Ordinance Compassionate Care Pregnancy Center has been able to minister more, not minister less. Pyeatt replied, “We have been able to reach more lives and we have seen an increase in donors and donations.” Pyeatt was asked what she would say to those who are engaged in pro-life work at pregnancy centers who may be fearful that the ordinance could be used to pit believers against other believers and bring division. Pyeatt shared, “We found the ordinance unified believers from many denominations.”
What does the proposed Amarillo SCFTU Ordinance actually say about pregnancy centers?
The proposed Amarillo SCFTU Ordinance has a lot to say about pregnancy centers and the resources that are available in the City of Amarillo.
The fifth finding of the proposed Amarillo SCFTU Ordinance states, “(5) In addition to the life-affirming services which are already being provided by organizations in the city of Amarillo, the Texas Alternatives to Abortion program is in place, which promotes childbirth and provides support services to pregnant mothers and their families, adoptive parents, and parents whose lives have been affected by miscarriage or loss of a child. The services provided as a part of the Alternatives to Abortion program include: counseling, mentoring, educational information and resources including classes on pregnancy, parenting, adoption, life skills and employment preparedness; material assistance covering basic needs, such as car seats, clothing, diapers, and formula; care coordination help through referrals to government assistance programs and other social services programs; call center for information and appointment scheduling; and housing and support services through maternity homes. The program is available to any Texas resident who is a United States citizen or legal immigrant and is: the biological mother or father of an unborn child, the biological mother or father of a child, for up to three years postpartum; the parent, legal guardian, or adult caregiver of a minor who is a program client; a parent who has experienced miscarriage or loss of a child; or an adoptive parent of a child of any age, for up to two years after adoption finalization. These services can be found at the Texas Pregnancy Care Network website at www.texaspregnancy.org.”
While some have suggested pregnancy centers could get in trouble for sharing information about where the closest abortion facilities are located, pregnancy centers do not provide “abortion doula services” assisting others with obtaining abortions. The complete definition of “abortion doula services” in Section 8-6-1 of the proposed Amarillo SCFTU Ordinance defines the term to mean “acts that aid or abet abortions by providing informational, logistical, emotional, or physical support that would make someone an accomplice to abortion under the principles of complicity set forth in section 7.02 of the Texas Penal Code.” The second part of the definition cannot be overlooked, as it clarifies the definition, stating, “The term does not include: (A) The provision of truthful information regarding the availability of abortion services that are legally permitted under the law of the jurisdiction in which they are offered; or (B) The provision of emotional support to a woman who has completed an abortion.”
Section 8-6-2 of the proposed Amarillo SCFTU Ordinance, under “Abortion Prohibited Within City Limits,” states, “(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to procure or perform an elective abortion of any type and at any stage of pregnancy in the city of Amarillo, Texas. The prohibition in this section extends to drug-induced abortions in which any portion of the drug regimen is ingested in the city of Amarillo, Texas, and it applies regardless of where the person who performs or procures the abortion is located. (b) It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly engage in conduct that aids or abets an elective abortion if the abortion is performed in violation of subsection (a), regardless of whether the person knew that the abortion would be performed in violation of subsection (a). (c) Notwithstanding any other law, subsections (a) and (b) do not prohibit… (7) any speech or conduct of a pregnancy resource center that does not offer abortions or provide abortion referrals or abortion-doula services, which is made in the context of providing counseling to a pregnant woman who seeks their services.”
And lastly, Section 8-6-3 of the proposed Amarillo SCFTU Ordinance, under “Abortions Prohibited On Amarillo Residents,” states, “(a) It is the policy of the city of Amarillo to protect its unborn residents from individuals and organizations that aid or abet the killing of unborn children, and to protect the unborn from those who seek to kill or otherwise harm them, to the maximum extent permissible under state and federal law. The prohibitions in this section and chapter shall apply extraterritorially to the maximum extent permitted by the Constitution of the United States and the Texas Constitution. (b) Except as provided by subsection (c), it shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly perform an elective abortion or knowingly engage in conduct that aids or abets an elective abortion if the abortion is performed on a resident of Amarillo, regardless of the location of the abortion, regardless of the law in the jurisdiction where the abortion occurred, and regardless of whether the person knew or should have known that the abortion was performed or induced on a resident of Amarillo. (c) Notwithstanding any other law, subsection (b) does not prohibit… (7) any speech or conduct of a pregnancy resource center that does not offer abortions or provide abortion referrals or abortion-doula services, which is made in the context of providing counseling to a pregnant woman who seeks their services.”
Carefully written ordinances that prohibit abortion trafficking do not hurt pregnancy centers in the State of Texas. Carefully written ordinances that prohibit abortion trafficking can only help pregnancy centers throughout the State of Texas. This is because the mission of abortion trafficking bans and pregnancy centers is one and the same – to save mothers and their unborn children from the horror of abortion. Or, to say it differently, to “rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.”
LifeNews Note: Mark Lee Dickson lives in Texas and serves as a Director with Right to Life of East Texas and the founder of the Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn Initiative.
