Iowa Catholic Conference Newsletter, May 26, 2026

Voting has begun for Iowa’s primary elections on June 2 and the Iowa Secretary of State has an information page on elections and voter registration. The Iowa Advocates for Choice in Education group has produced an educational flyer about gubernatorial candidates’ positions on the school choice issue.

Pope Leo XIV issues encyclical on AI

Earlier this week Pope Leo released his first encyclical letter, Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence. Pope Leo XIV appeals for artificial intelligence to be placed firmly at the service of humanity, warning against technologies that foster domination, exclusion and war.

Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), welcomed the letter, saying “It is a powerful reminder that no technology can replace a child of God, and all technology should be placed at the service of helping humanity thrive.”

The Administrative Committee of the USCCB has tasked its Committee on Doctrine to lead and coordinate the bishops’ work regarding AI. It reflects the Catholic belief that the dignity of the human person is inviolable. The USCCB has a resource page on the document.

Tell the FDA to end chemical abortions

The National Committee for a Human Life Amendment is encouraging you to send a message to Acting FDA Commissioner Diamantas and ask him to take action to protect women and unborn children against the chemical abortion drug, mifepristone.

The use of chemical abortion drugs is staggering, now accounting for 63% of all abortions.  Hundreds of thousands of unborn children die each year as a result. America's women are suffering the consequences. One out of every 10 women who use the drug experiences a serious adverse event, such has hemorrhaging, infection, or sepsis.

The U.S. Supreme Court is deliberating on whether to temporarily block the mail-order distribution of the chemical abortion drug mifepristone, but the FDA can and should act now.

You can also join us at the State Capitol on Saturday, June 20 for the Iowa March for Life, with a rally starting at 1 p.m. Des Moines Bishop William Joensen is scheduled to speak at the event, along with other pro-life leaders. Following the rally there will be a walk to the Iowa Supreme Court building and back.