Bishops speak out on immigration

The Catholic bishops of Iowa have released a statement addressing migration issues including the new “illegal reentry” law set to take effect July 1 and a call for immigration reform with humanitarian protections.

The bishops said, “While Catholics may disagree within the limits of justice on the specific approach to reforming the immigration system, we ask lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to resist easy answers and do their job … we again ask for ‘border protection policies that are consistent with humanitarian values and with the need to treat all individuals with respect, while allowing the authorities to carry out the critical task of identifying and preventing entry of terrorists and dangerous criminals.”

Roundup on the 2024 legislative session

Every organization that advocates at the Capitol has successes and disappointments. The Iowa Catholic Conference (ICC) invites you to join a Zoom webinar with a recap of the 2024 Iowa legislative session. You can learn about the ICC’s advocacy efforts as well as hear updates on the new immigration law and the “heartbeat” abortion law. The webinar will be held on Wednesday, May 22 at 7 p.m. Don't miss this opportunity to engage! Please register here.

Civilize It: Unifying a Divided Church

On Tuesday, May 14 at 2 p.m., join Cardinal Robert McElroy, Bishop Robert Barron and Bishop Daniel Flores as they dialogue on the challenge of polarization in the Church today and the path forward. The conversation will include reflections on their roles as shepherds and leaders in their dioceses and in the U.S. Church, and on important topics such as the Synod on Synodality, encounter, and where to find hope amid the polarization.

Gloria Purvis, renowned Catholic speaker and host of The Gloria Purvis Podcast from America Magazine, will moderate the conversation. This virtual event is co-sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Charities USA, Glenmary Home Missioners, and the Jesuit Conference. You can watch the livestream here.

Health care that truly heals must be grounded in truth, says Bishop Rhoades

“Health care that truly heals must be grounded in truth,” said Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, responding to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) issuance of final regulations implementing the nondiscrimination provisions of the Affordable Care Act, known as Section 1557. By including “sexual orientation and gender identity” in the definition of “sex,” the final regulations generally require health care workers to perform “gender transition” procedures in the name of nondiscrimination. At the same time, the regulations make modest improvements to the proposed regulations’ protections for the exercise of conscience, religious belief, and clinical judgment.