Iowa Catholic Conference Newsletter, May 13, 2022

The Students First proposal is still being discussed at the Capitol. It would offer funding for some parents to send their children to a nonpublic school. The bill has already passed the Iowa Senate.

The state already helps fund students in private college and preschool. Why not K-12? Send your member of the Iowa House a message: https://votervoice.net/ICC/Campaigns/93662/Respond.

In a piece of good news, the U.S. Senate has failed to advance the Women’s Health Protection Act (S. 4132). This bill would have imposed abortion on demand nationwide at any stage of pregnancy through federal statute and would have eliminated pro-life laws at every level of government - including parental notification for minor girls, informed consent, and health or safety protections specific to abortion facilities. Iowa Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley voted against advancing the bill.

Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities and Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, chairman of the Committee for Religious Liberty, issued the following statement, in part:

“As a nation built on the recognition that every human being is endowed by its Creator with the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, we implore Congress to stop pushing abortion as a solution to the needs of women and young girls, and instead embrace public policy that fully respects and facilitates these rights and the needs of both mother and child.”

Here in Iowa, the ICC continues its support of the Iowa MOMS maternal support bill and the Protect Life Amendment, which would allow Iowans to determine our state's abortion laws.