Iowa Catholic Conference Labor Day update

Labor Day statement: ensure that innovation and development benefit all 

This Labor Day, “let us foster an economy that values the God given dignity of each person,” said Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.

Echoing Pope Leo XIV in Magnifica humanitas, Archbishop Fabre offers the Catholic Church’s fundamental commitment to sacred human dignity as a hopeful vision amidst a challenging economy, further threatened by artificial intelligence which is already impacting the job market. We must build a just economy for all and “listen to the experiences of workers, families, young people and communities of color as they struggle to find stability,” he says. The full Labor Day statement is available here (and in Spanish).

ICC to roll out social media campaign on ‘Faithful Citizenship’

In the coming days, the Iowa Catholic Conference will begin to release short videos from the Iowa bishops on “faithful citizenship.” Watch for them on our Facebook, Instagram and YouTube channels.

As the U.S. bishops’ document, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” says: “The Church’s obligation to participate in shaping the moral character of society is a requirement of our faith. It is a basic part of the mission we have received from Jesus Christ, who offers a vision of life revealed to us in Sacred Scripture and Tradition.”

The Iowa Catholic Conference also offers a flyer in English, Spanish and French to help in your discernment about how to participate in the political process. Videos from the Iowa bishops will be following soon.

Absentee ballot requests now open

You can now request an absentee ballot from the county auditor for the 2026 mid-term general election. Voting begins on Oct. 14.

Catholic parishes join AMOS celebration

On Aug. 30 more than 1,200 people from central and northeast Iowa met in Clive to celebrate AMOS’ 30th Anniversary “We the People” Convention. AMOS is a faith-based organizing group with participation from several Catholic parishes.

During the convention, AMOS received commitments from several candidates to address work authorization for refugees and DACA recipients, water quality and Iowa’s cancer rate, public school funding, EMS response times, and “Silver Alerts” for vulnerable seniors.

Concerns expressed about Amendment 1

Amendment 1 will be on the ballot here in Iowa. The proposed constitutional amendment would require a two-thirds vote in each legislative chamber to raise two types of taxes: personal income and corporate income. Requiring a two-thirds majority is a tough ask, even for bills with bipartisan support.

It wouldn’t necessarily keep all taxes down. Legislators might have to fix budget gaps by raising fees or other taxes, like the sales tax and the gas tax. These taxes fall disproportionately on lower-income people, who tend to pay a higher percentage of their total income on taxes. Those who are poor should not pay a disproportionate amount of income in the total taxes paid.

The ICC opposed the proposal during the legislative session, reminding lawmakers that Catholic teaching supports a more progressive form of taxation. A paraphrase of Luke 12:4 might read: “From those to whom much has been given, much should be expected.”

Registration begins for Iowa religious freedom symposium

Registration is now open for the symposium to be held at Iowa State University on Thursday, Oct. 15 called “The US Constitution: Where Separation and Unity Meet.” For more information go to www.iowareligiousfreedomday.org.

Tell pharmacies to say ‘no’ to abortion pills

The USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities is inviting Catholics to join a focused effort of prayer and action to stop the spread of abortion pills. The initiative will take place through Oct. 31 and includes the month-long commemoration of Respect Life Month observed each October by the Catholic Church in the United States.  

In addition to invoking the intercession of St. Joseph, Defender of Life, participants can learn about the danger of abortion pills which have become accessible through telehealth appointments and at pharmacies, leading to increased risks to women, and the abortion rate tragically climbing. Participants are encouraged to share information about the dangers of abortion pills and sign up to send messages to pharmacies, distributors, and pharmaceutical companies at Respect Life Prayer and Action.

As trusted providers serving patients and communities, pharmacies should not be dispensing abortion drugs. Yet stores like CVS and Walgreens, along with some distributors and online pharmacies, are now profiting from the sale of the drug, mifepristone, for abortion. These pills have been ending preborn lives for too long, but only in the last few years have they been sold at neighborhood and online pharmacies. Now they are the way most abortions are performed.

As consumers, we can try to influence actions of these businesses. Go here to tell major companies that sell or distribute the abortion pill to change course.

Celebrating the Season of Creation

The Season of Creation runs from Sept. 1 – Oct. 4, beginning with the World Day of Prayer for the Care for Creation. As we enter this season, Pope Leo XIV invites us "to contemplate the gift of life and to cherish the earth that sustains it.” In his Message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, the Holy Father focuses on the impact of war on humanity and our common home and calls us to seek peace and healing in our world.

The USCCB's Environmental Justice Program offers resources for the Season of Creation to help your community celebrate, pray, and act for change, including the new Mass for the Care of Creation recently approved by the Holy See for use in English and Spanish in the United States.