‘PROTECT LIFE’ AMENDMENT PASSES COMMITTEE Senate Joint Resolution 21, the “Protect Life” amendment to clarify that a right to abortion is not guaranteed by the State of Iowa Constitution, passed the Senate State Government on Jan. 23 on a party line vote of 10-5. The bill is now eligible for debate on the Senate floor. [...]
The 2020 session of the 88th Iowa General Assembly convened last week. Gov. Kim Reynolds delivered her Condition of the State address last Tuesday and announced an “Invest in Iowa Act.” It includes a sales tax increase, income and property tax decreases as well as proposals to improve water quality and mental health programs. The [...]
On caucus night, Feb. 3, 2020, Iowans will gather by party preference at their precinct sites to elect delegates to the 99 county conventions. The event is a statewide invitation to Iowans to gather in their communities to consider presidential candidates and issues and is the first-in-the-nation test of the 2020 electoral cycle. The Iowa [...]
We support an Iowa constitutional amendment to clarify that a right to abortion is not guaranteed by the State of Iowa Constitution. The Iowa Supreme Court, in a June 2018 decision, struck down the law requiring a three-day waiting period before an abortion is performed. In pursuit of that decision, the Court claimed that the [...]
This fall the Iowa Catholic Conference has been working with legislators and others on several issues of concern identified by the bishops. A top priority is encouraging the Legislature to pass a “Protect Life” amendment to Iowa’s Constitution which would allow the people of Iowa to decide how to regulate abortion. In June 2018, the [...]
The National Council on Disability (NCD) has released a federal study, “The Danger of Assisted Suicide Laws,” revealing that assisted suicide laws are rife with dangers to people with disabilities. The NCD is an independent federal agency charged with advising the President, Congress and other federal agencies regarding policies, programs, practices, and procedures that affect [...]
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on Nov. 12, 2019 on the legality of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. A decision is expected to be announced by the Supreme Court in June 2020. DACA recipients are young adults who were born in other countries and are not citizens in the United States. [...]
USCCB LAUNCHES CIVILITY EFFORT As campaigning by presidential candidates takes place across Iowa, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is launching a year-long initiative that invites Catholics to model civility, love for neighbor and respectful dialogue. “Civilize It: Dignity Beyond the Debate” will ask Catholics to pledge civility, clarity, and [...]
‘WORLD DAY FOR MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES’ TO BE CELEBRATED SUNDAY The Vatican’s World Day for Migrants and Refugees will be held this Sunday, Sept. 29. The theme for the celebration is, “It is not just about migrants.” Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin, Chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on [...]
BISHOPS HIGHLIGHT 1919 PROGRAM OF SOCIAL RECONSTRUCTION For Labor Day, the U.S. Catholic bishops have issued a statement on the one-hundred-year-old United States Bishops’ Program of Social Reconstruction. The Program was published in 1919 after the end of World War I as a guide for the economic changes during that time period. In the statement, [...]