Iowa Catholic Conference Newsletter, June 5, 2023

More than 7,000 applications have been received from Iowans for a Students First Education Savings Account to help pay for tuition to an accredited nonpublic school and other expenses. See if you qualify and find out about the nearest Catholic school.

Governor Reynolds has signed the departmental budget bills, allocating about $8.5 billion from the state's general fund. Unfortunately, the governor also signed Senate File 494 containing additional administrative requirements for Iowans trying to access government assistance such as SNAP (food stamps).

Debt ceiling results

Thanks to those of you who sent messages to members of Congress regarding the debt ceiling. A central moral measure of any budget proposal is how it affects “the least of these” (Mt 25). The needs of those who are hungry and homeless should come first.

Upcoming events

• Beginning June 14, Creighton University and the Catholic Climate Covenant are sponsoring a virtual conference, “Laudato Si’ and the U.S. Catholic Church: A Conference Series on Our Common Home.” Learn more about conference registration.

• The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) invites Catholics to pray, reflect, and act during Religious Freedom Week, June 22-29. It draws attention to how the practice of our faith is threatened in our country and abroad. For more resources on how to participate, visit www.usccb.org/religiousfreedomweek.

• The Iowa March for Life will take place on Saturday, June 24 beginning at 1 p.m. There will be a rally on the west steps of the Iowa Capitol followed by a walk to the Iowa Supreme Court building. The March is an opportunity to proclaim the value of human life and advocate for the protection of life in the law. No registration is necessary to attend.

• Iowa Interfaith Power and Light will hold a virtual hearing on the Farm Bill on Thursday, June 29 from 7-8:30 p.m. Explore further.