County Commissioners Court Declares Ellis County a Sanctuary County for the Unborn in Texas

On Tuesday, January 28, 2020, the Ellis County Commissioners Court unanimously passed a Resolution making Ellis County a Sanctuary for the Unborn. It reads in part:

“Declaring the County of Ellis, Texas, to Be a Sanctuary for Life and Urging the Citizens of Ellis County to Promote and Defend the Inalienable Right to Life and the Inherent Dignity of All Human Beings, Including the Pre-Born, from Conception or Fertilization Through All Stages of Development.”

While at least ten cities across Texas have adopted similar resolutions, no large counties had yet taken this step. But with this Resolution, Ellis County may be the first Sanctuary County for the Unborn in Texas. Although this resolution is only a first step and does not have any enforcement language at present, it could lay the foundation for a future ordinance that would have law enforcement power. Furthermore, by showing their support for such measures in their local governments, citizens at the city and county levels can put pressure on the state legislature to act on their unfilled election promises to protect our children in the womb.

When he was informed of this pending resolution, Council 8417 Pro-Life Program Director Hugh Reynolds partnered with other Pro-Life leaders to spread the word and generate public support and participation in this project. Georgia Fitzhugh, Director of the St. Joseph’s Parish Pro-Life Group, had written and distributed a petition among other parish ministries and organizations.

Taking inspiration from Georgia’s action, Hugh wrote a letter to County Judge Todd Little and presented it to his Grand Knight and Council. Hugh got signatures from 30 Council 8417 Knights and sent the letter and signatures to Judge Little prior to the County Commissioners meeting.

Hugh also worked with the managers, staff, and volunteers of FirstLook Pregnancy Center, to promote support for the resolution among other churches, ministries, and throughout the wider community. As the only Pro-Life Pregnancy Care Center in Ellis County, FirstLook is at the heart of the Pro-Life Community in Waxahachie and Ellis County.

On January 28, Hugh attended the meeting in the Historic Ellis County Courthouse with CEO Donna Young, Director Sharra Poteet, Nurse Manager Becky Scasta, and other FirstLook staff and volunteers. Dozens of citizens stood up and spoke in favor of the Resolution, including men and women who had suffered through the consequences of abortion in their past. The testimonies were powerful, compelling, and sometimes heart-breaking.

All four Commissioners and Judge Little himself spoke from their hearts about their conviction that this Resolution should serve as a beacon for other cities and counties around the state and the nation. The message: We can no longer wait for state legislatures or federal courts to solve this problem. We must protect our pre-born children, and their mothers at risk of abortion, in our own communities. This war will not ultimately be won in the courts and legislatures. It must be won in our hearts and in our culture.

During the testimonies, one theme came up again and again: Abortion is not just a “women’s issue”. Men must step up to end the scourge of abortion in our communities. As an organization of over 2 million Catholic men worldwide, the Knights of Columbus are in a strong position to assume leadership in this movement to take back our cities and counties from the abortion industry.

With help from our Almighty Father, let us use our strengths as husbands, fathers, and Knights to finally put an end to abortion and return our nation to the land where “all are born free and all are free to be born”.