Feeding people, not landfills As Catholics, we have a moral and spiritual obligation to care for the gift of God’s creation and to insure we cooperate in protecting it. The challenge of the proper management of the earth’s resources has implications for all Catholics as we integrate church teaching into all aspects of [...]
The 5th annual Iowa Religious Freedom Day will be marked at the State Capitol on Thursday, April 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The public is invited to attend this non-partisan event to learn about the value of religious diversity and religious freedom. This year's event will highlight the connection between families and religious [...]
In 1977, Congress passed the Hyde Amendment with bi-partisan support, and since that time its action has protected millions of vulnerable human lives. An accelerating political movement to end Hyde requires the support of Catholics to preserve its defense of human life and dignity against the offense of abortion. The Hyde Amendment was created in [...]
Pope Francis today launched a worldwide, two-year “Share the Journey” campaign calling on Catholics to ‘encounter’ migrants and refugees in an effort to break down barriers of fear and suspicion and build bridges of understanding and hospitality. “Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to share the journey! Do not be [...]
The Catholic bishops of Iowa have contacted Iowa’s congressional delegation in support of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) youth and the Dream Act of 2017. You are encouraged to contact our members of Congress on the issue as well at https://votervoice.net/ICC/home. The text of the Iowa Catholic Conference letter is as follows: The Iowa Catholic Conference supports [...]
The U.S. Senate is working on its version of a health care bill. The House passed its own bill last month. Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, Chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, has highlighted certain positive elements in the Senate bill, but reiterated the need for Senators [...]
The USCCB has announced the Fortnight for Freedom: Freedom for Mission, which will be celebrated from June 21-July 4. The bishops ask Catholics to pray for the prudential judgment of our nation’s leaders as they consider the important issues before them. Religious freedom is “our first, most cherished liberty” and the one on which [...]
The first legislative “funnel” deadline was last Thursday. That means any bill that has not passed out of a committee by now is dead for the session, with the exception of budget and tax bills. During the next few weeks, the Iowa Senate will be working to pass bills that came out of a Senate [...]
New resources posted on Education Savings Accounts We are working to encourage state legislators to pass an Education Savings Account program this year. Some new resources have been posted on our website, including a link to a recent webinar and the Iowa bishops’ statement. You are invited to attend a “National School Choice Week” event [...]
"Making decisions in the light of our faith will not be easy, and it may lead us to a place we don't want to go. But it is our life-long obligation to say "yes" to God in all things, and listen for His voice sounding in our heart." Faithful Citizenship for Iowa Catholics, 2016 [...]