Iowa Catholic Conference Newsletter, June 5, 2025

Efforts continue to protect international food aid

Your help is still urgently needed! Ask your members of Congress to insist that the administration reverse the terminations of Catholic Relief Services’ Food for Progress and McGovern-Dole Food for Education programs, to continue lifesaving and life-affirming food aid. Research shows that your voice has a significant influence, especially when you personalize the message.

The administration has terminated all but two of Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) McGovern-Dole Food for Education school feeding programs - cutting off daily meals for nearly 800,000 children in 11 countries beginning in July. For many, this was their only meal of the day. Without these meals, children will be forced to learn on empty stomachs, putting their health and futures at risk. School feeding programs: 

• Increase literacy and learning outcomes

• Reduce absences due to hunger and illness

• Support local economies and reduce migration

In addition, the U.S. bishops’ Justice for Immigrants campaign has posted a sample message to our Senators on the immigration provisions of the Big Beautiful Bill now being considered by the Senate. In their letter to Congress, the bishops described these provisions as doubling down on an “unsustainable, enforcement-only approach to immigration” and “contrary to the common good.” 

Walk with us at the Iowa March for Life

You’re invited to participate in the Iowa March for Life coming up on Saturday, June 21. The event will begin inside the State Capitol in Des Moines at noon with educational booths and music followed by a rally at 1 p.m. Father Nick Stark, pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton Church in Carlisle, will offer one of the prayers.

Jennie Bradley Lichter, new president of the national March for Life, will be one of the main speakers. A walk to the Supreme Court building and back (for cookies!) will follow the rally.

Good news from the U.S. Supreme Court

The Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of the Diocese of Superior and overturned the decision of the Wisconsin Supreme Court in the “Catholic Charities Bureau vs. LIRC” case. The Iowa Catholic Conference had joined five other state Catholic Conferences in an amicus brief supporting the position of Catholic Charities of Superior. 

The case concerned whether Catholic Charities had to be part of Wisconsin's unemployment compensation system, or if it could join the existing Catholic unemployment benefits system, which is operated in accordance with Catholic beliefs. A lower court in Wisconsin ruled that Catholic Charities was not “operated primarily for religious purposes” because it provides direct material aid, does not restrict its support to Catholics, and does not proselytize aid recipients.

Justice Sonya Sotomayor wrote the opinion released on June 5, which concluded that Wisconsin had imposed a denominational preference by “differentiating between religions based on theological choices,” and that Wisconsin had not met its burden to justify that difference.

And finally,

Here’s a list of locations for the Healthy Kids Iowa food pantry locations.