{"id":1211781,"date":"2022-01-12T16:19:26","date_gmt":"2022-01-12T21:19:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1211781"},"modified":"2022-01-12T16:19:32","modified_gmt":"2022-01-12T21:19:32","slug":"delaware-attorney-general-sues-town-over-ordinance-requiring-dignified-disposal-of-fetal-remains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/delaware-attorney-general-sues-town-over-ordinance-requiring-dignified-disposal-of-fetal-remains\/","title":{"rendered":"Delaware Attorney General Sues Town over Ordinance Requiring \u2018Dignified Disposal\u2019 of Fetal Remains"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdelaware-attorney-general-sues-town-over-ordinance-requiring-dignified-disposal-of-fetal-remains%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1211781&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/SBs-640x335-1.jpg\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" alt=\"image\" \/><\/div>\n<p class=\"subheading\">The attorney general of Delaware has filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.delawareonline.com\/story\/news\/local\/2022\/01\/11\/historical-suit-delaware-ag-sues-seaford-over-fetal-remains-ordinance-abortion-rights\/9006253002\/#lawsuit\">lawsuit<\/a> against one of her state\u2019s towns for passing an ordinance that requires the \u201cdignified disposal\u201d of the remains of babies who were either aborted or miscarried.<\/p>\n<p>Attorney General Kathy Jennings (D) <a href=\"https:\/\/whyy.org\/articles\/delaware-ag-sues-city-of-seaford-over-abortion-ordinance\/\">said<\/a> the ordinance, passed by the Seaford City Council in a 3-2 vote on December 14, violates state law and is \u201clittle more than an expensive publicity stunt,\u201d reported WHYY Tuesday.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"gmxrevmore\" class=\"H\"><\/figure>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">It brings me no joy to sue one of our own cities, but three councilmen backed by dark, outside money have left me with no choice. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/R7U7dDo1Fb\">https:\/\/t.co\/R7U7dDo1Fb<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Attorney General Kathy Jennings (@DE_DOJ) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DE_DOJ\/status\/1480982229056692228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 11, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The ordinance requires the remains of babies who were either aborted or the results of miscarriage to be buried or cremated.<\/p>\n<p>Opponents claim the ordinance stigmatizes women and girls seeking abortions because it suggests aborted babies are human beings that deserve dignity.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p>WBOC News <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wboc.com\/news\/seaford-responds-to-delaware-ag-lawsuit-over-fetal-remains-ordinance\/article_4254c65c-73ad-11ec-b100-434570e5e001.html\">reported<\/a> Wednesday:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>State officials also argue, for example, that a fetus that is aborted before 20 weeks of gestation or which weighs less than about 12.5 ounces, is not considered a dead human under Delaware law. Therefore, most elective abortions would not result in a \u201cdead body,\u201d according to Jennings.<\/p>\n<p>A dead body cannot be buried or cremated without a permit, and a permit cannot be issued without a death certificate, and \u201ca death certificate can only be issued for a dead human body,\u201d according to the state\u2019s complaint.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Additionally, the ordinance\u2019s critics argue medical facilities will incur increased costs to bury or cremate fetal remains.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[T]he Ordinance is but one part of a nationwide effort by interest groups to make it more difficult and costly for pregnant persons to be able to receive lawful reproductive healthcare services, and more difficult for healthcare providers to provide those services,\u201d the lawsuit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.delawareonline.com\/story\/news\/local\/2022\/01\/11\/historical-suit-delaware-ag-sues-seaford-over-fetal-remains-ordinance-abortion-rights\/9006253002\/#lawsuit\">states<\/a>, but attempts to make its primary point the contention that the ordinance \u201cis invalid because it is preempted by State law.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Seaford City Solicitor Daniel Griffith <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wboc.com\/news\/seaford-responds-to-delaware-ag-lawsuit-over-fetal-remains-ordinance\/article_4254c65c-73ad-11ec-b100-434570e5e001.html\">said<\/a> in the city\u2019s response to the lawsuit:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>There are at least 13 states that require fetal remains to be cremated or buried; and the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of these laws, saying that the government has a legitimate interest in the disposal of fetal remains.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Jennings accused the three councilmen who voted in favor of the ordinance of being \u201cbacked by dark, outside money,\u201d WHYY noted.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B3\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>Seaford\u2019s first Planned Parenthood facility <a href=\"https:\/\/www.delawareonline.com\/story\/news\/local\/2022\/01\/11\/historical-suit-delaware-ag-sues-seaford-over-fetal-remains-ordinance-abortion-rights\/9006253002\/\">opened<\/a> days before the vote on the ordinance, reported <em>Delaware News Journal<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Planned Parenthood of Delaware\u2019s Ruth Lytle-Barnaby said in a statement reported by WHYY:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Though the measure purports to be about dignity, it continues the stigma around abortion and would make it harder for patients to access abortion and miscarriage care. Planned Parenthood of Delaware will not stand by as elected officials try to insert themselves into our patients\u2019 most personal decisions, and we continue to support the Department of Justice in pushing back.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>According to the&nbsp;<em>News Journal,&nbsp;<\/em>Jennings said:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>The law is clear. Seaford\u2019s ordinance is precluded by State law. This ordinance is part of a national wave of anti-abortion policies funded by extremists who would have our country dragged fifty years into the past. Left unchecked, it threatens serious, irreparable, and unconstitutional harm. And at the end of the day, it will amount to little more than an expensive publicity stunt.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Following approval of the ordinance and subsequent threats of litigation by Jennings and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Seaford City Council changed course on December 30 by placing an indefinite stay on its enforcement.<\/p>\n<p>In a joint statement, ACLU of Delaware and Delaware National Organization for Women (NOW) said they \u201capplaud Attorney General Kathy Jennnings\u2019 legal action against Seaford to permanently block the city\u2019s illegal fetal remains ordinance.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B4\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>Mike Brickner, executive director of ACLU of Delaware, and Melissa Froemming, president of Delaware NOW, continued:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Unobstructed access to abortion care is vital for Delawareans \u2013 especially for our neighbors living in rural parts of the state. At a time when the fate of <em>Roe v. Wade<\/em> is uncertain nationally, our state laws make it clear: abortion is a guaranteed right in Delaware.<\/p>\n<p>Our coalition stands ready to take action if this ordinance is enforced, or if any other city in Delaware tries to pass a law that would restrict access to abortion. Reproductive services, including abortion, are vital forms of health care. And we won\u2019t back down in making sure access to reproductive health care is available to all.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">We, along with <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NOW_Delaware?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@NOW_Delaware<\/a>, applaud <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DE_DOJ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@DE_DOJ<\/a>\u2019s legal action against Seaford to permanently block the city\u2019s illegal fetal remains ordinance. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/WjqULqRgta\">pic.twitter.com\/WjqULqRgta<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 ACLU of Delaware (@ACLUDelaware) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ACLUDelaware\/status\/1481062492373753856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 12, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Councilman Matthew McCoy, who voted in favor of the ordinance, <a href=\"https:\/\/whyy.org\/articles\/seaford-del-backtracks-on-abortion-ordinance-to-stave-off-lawsuit-threat\/\">initiated<\/a> the motion to place a stay on its enforcement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re not ruling on the order itself, but a pathway forward,\u201d McCoy said, according to WHYY. \u201cThis decision and other decisions should be made by representation and not in a courtroom via litigation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Seaford Councilman James King, who voted against the ordinance, called it \u201ca complete waste of time, energy and resources.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are having conversations around something, in my opinion, that is completely illegal,\u201d King said. \u201cI feel that this ordinance is illegal, unconstitutional, and is a violation of civil rights.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Griffith, however, said he anticipates \u201cthe lawsuit will be dismissed as moot (because the&nbsp;ordinance has been stayed) so that the General Assembly can address this issue.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is disappointing that&nbsp;the AG is using our overcrowded court system and taxpayer money to pit governments against each&nbsp;other,\u201d he added, according to WBOC News.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Lubbock, Texas, became the largest city in the United States to declare itself a \u201csanctuary city for the unborn,\u201d the 26th in the nation to outlaw abortion. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/L9bH5NpzXW\">https:\/\/t.co\/L9bH5NpzXW<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BreitbartNews\/status\/1389274348335292416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 3, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Seaford Mayor David Genshaw also said the debate over the ordinance is not over.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe stay can be lifted at any time the council chooses,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Genshaw added the ordinance has nothing to do with global or national issues about abortion, but instead is focused on the values of the local community of Seaford.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe city of Seaford and the elected have acted in good faith with the state,\u201d he said, according to the <em>News Journal<\/em>. \u201cBut this is a matter that I think is at the core of who we are as people and how do we treat life?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Currently, 43 municipalities in Texas, Ohio, and Nebraska have <a href=\"https:\/\/sanctuarycitiesfortheunborn.org\/sanctuary-cities-1\">passed<\/a> ordinances outlawing abortion within their city limits, declaring themselves \u201csanctuary cities for the unborn.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The attorney general of Delaware has filed a lawsuit against one of her state\u2019s towns for passing an ordinance that requires the \u201cdignified disposal\u201d of the remains of babies who 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