ICC Newsletter, Sept. 27, 2026
Are you registered to vote?
Voting in Iowa begins on Oct. 14. It’s time to find out if you’re actually registered to vote! Go to https://apps.sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/regtovote/search.aspx. You can register to vote here.
Interest is growing in the Iowa bishops’ Faithful Citizenship videos on social media. In the last month, our Facebook page had more than 10,000 views, which is way beyond what it was getting before. New videos will be released well into next year. The “Shorts” on YouTube and “Reels” on Facebook can be found here:
Make sure you like and subscribe! The ICC also offers a flyer with more information on Faithful Citizenship, the Church’s role in politics and some sample questions for candidates.
ICC signs on to letter asking for coverage of refugee moms
Yesterday was the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. The U.S. Catholic Church celebrated this day by reflecting on its history as an immigrant Church and the ways in which the country has been enriched by generations of immigrants, including the many Catholics who have adopted this land as their own.
Unfortunately, refugees who have been legally resettled in Iowa through the federal government, but who have not yet received legal permanent residency (green card) status, will lose eligibility for Medicaid as of Oct. 1. This loss of eligibility will affect a minimum of a thousand refugees in Iowa, including pregnant refugee mothers. The Iowa Catholic Conference has signed on to a letter asking the governor to help find a way to cover this health care through some federal options for those who are legally present.
Walking the path of mercy
Last month, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque hosted a national meeting for those who walk with the formerly incarcerated. Catholic Charities of Dubuque’s program offers mentoring to nonviolent drug offenders who are participating in one of five state drug courts — now more commonly called rehabilitation courts — throughout the Archdiocese of Dubuque. It is offered to those on probation who are deemed good candidates for treatment and rehabilitation and who would otherwise be facing incarceration.
The Catholic bishops of Iowa also recently wrote to the Department of Corrections and asked, for humanitarian reasons, that air conditioning be installed in the living areas of the prisons in Anamosa and Mt. Pleasant.
Respect Life Month marked
October is celebrated as Respect Life Month in the Catholic Church. In a piece of good news, the California Attorney General’s lawsuit against Heartbeat International and RealOptions ended last week. Defense attorneys pointed out that the state failed to put forth a single woman who was harmed by Abortion Pill Reversal (APR).
Abortion Pill Reversal is a protocol that allows women who regret having taken the abortion pill mifepristone to counter its effects through use of an FDA-approved hormone (progesterone) if administered within 72 hours.
Recently, the Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it would begin an unprecedented study of America’s drinking water. Rather than screen water for a few select chemicals, the study’s non-targeted analysis will screen for a broad range of over 1400 chemicals, including two drugs used in chemical abortions – mifepristone and misoprostol.
Join Iowans Against the Death Penalty
The World Day Against the Death Penalty is commemorated every year on Oct. 10, this special day invites communities from across the globe to unite their voices to call for an end to the death penalty. We’re fortunate in Iowa that we haven’t had the death penalty since the mid-1960’s and legislative attempts to bring it back have failed to date.
You are encouraged to sign up for the Annual Novena to End the Death Penalty, and join our partners at Iowans Against the Death Penalty.
Religious freedom symposium coming up Oct. 15
You’re encouraged to register for the symposium to be held at Iowa State University on Thursday, Oct. 15 called “The U.S. Constitution: Where Separation and Unity Meet.” For more information go to www.iowareligiousfreedomday.org.
And finally,
During this election season, we encourage you to get your news from a variety of sources. We appreciate that the Iowa Catholic Conference is one of them.
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