On Tuesday, the City Council of the City of Moran (pop. 285) passed an “Ordinance Outlawing Abortion, declaring Moran a Sanctuary City for the Unborn” in a 4-0-1 vote: four in favor, zero against, with one abstaining.
The City of Moran, located between Cisco (pop. 4,006) and Albany (pop. 2,043) on State Highway 6, is the 55th city in Texas and the 72nd city in the nation to pass an ordinance prohibiting abortion.
Moran City Council
After the vote, Pastor Larry Briley from First Baptist Church Moran said, “It’s such a Blessing to be a part of a community that will stand on God’s Word to protect the lives of unborn children! We may be a small community but praise the Lord we can see God’s hand working in Moran Texas! May God receive all the Glory! Thank you all [who] voted to stand with God in protecting those [who] can’t protect themselves!”
Moran resident Cindy Hogan shared, “It’s so exciting to know that Moran stepped up and did the right thing for the unborn children!” Pastor Cynthia Tollett from Apostolic Gospel Church in Moran was also excited about the vote. Pastor Tollett, who was there to witness the victory, noted, “It was a great victory for the unborn. The voice of an aborted child is unheard, but with this ordinance, the people of Moran will let them be heard.”
Shackelford County Republican Chair Rodney Casey, who introduced the initiative to the City of Moran, added, “Moran took the high ground! In line with the Republican Party of Texas, the Mayor and City Council of Moran stood against abortions by further outlawing abortion and declaring Moran a Sanctuary City for the Unborn! Mayor Tyler George and the City Council did a great job!”
The City of Moran is the first city in Shackelford County to pass such an ordinance and the ninth city in the Hub of Texas – Abilene Region to pass a ‘Sanctuary City for the Unborn’ ordinance. Other cities in the region include: Abilene (pop. 129,043), San Angelo (pop. 101,612), Cisco (pop. 4,006), Eastland (pop. 3,970), Anson (pop. 2,347), Gorman (pop. 1,083), Carbon (pop. 255), and Impact (pop. 38).
The Moran Sanctuary City for the Unborn Ordinance is enforced in the same manner as the Texas Heartbeat Act—through a private enforcement mechanism. The ordinance reads, “Any person, other than the City of Moran, and any officer or employee of the city, has standing to bring and may bring a civil action against any person or entity that: violates any provision” of this ordinance.
The six provisions of the Moran Sanctuary City for the Unborn Ordinance: (1) prohibit performing an elective abortion and aiding or abetting elective abortions within the city limits of Moran, (2) prohibit elective abortions on residents of Moran – regardless of where the abortion takes place, (3) prohibit abortion trafficking through the City of Moran, (4) prohibit the mailing of abortion-inducing drugs into the City of Moran, (5) prohibit criminal organizations from doing business inside the city limits of Moran, and (6) prohibit through or in the City of Moran the transportation and disposal of the remains of unborn children who have been killed by an elective abortion across state lines and carried into Texas by waste management companies.
The ordinance, which has a six-year statute of limitations, is clear that “a civil action … may not be brought: against the woman upon whom the abortion was performed or induced or attempted to be performed or induced in violation of this ordinance, or against a pregnant woman who intends or seeks to abort her unborn child in violation of this ordinance.”
In addition to providing protections for pregnant mothers and their unborn children, the ordinance also educates about the Thriving Texas Families Program and directs people to the Texas Pregnancy Care Network website.
Earlier that day, Shackelford County (pop. 3,105) passed a Sanctuary County for the Unborn ordinance. Their measure passed in a unanimous 4-0 vote, making the county the seventh in the state to outlaw abortion and abortion trafficking.
District Attorney Isaac Castro, who represents the 259th Judicial District that includes Jones and Shackelford counties, celebrated the action, stating, “Proud of all the leaders of Shackelford County who continue the fight to protect the rights of the unborn! I stand with you to save the babies!”
The Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn initiative has seen a total of 72 cities and nine counties pass ordinances in seven different states—all prohibiting abortion within their jurisdiction. Those who wish to see their county pass an ordinance further outlawing abortion are encouraged to sign the initiative’s online petition.
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