BISHOP ZINKULA ON THE COMMON GOOD
Election Day is coming up quickly on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Don’t forget to vote! You can register to vote at the polling site on Election Day.
We have posted a video from Bishop Thomas Zinkula of the Diocese of Davenport about the “common good” and how to apply this principle during an election season. The bishop suggested when voting we not only consider what is “best for me,” but what is “best for us.” You can find all the election-related videos from the bishops on our YouTube page and our flier with election information here.
The ICC advises a “no” vote on Public Measure #1. If enacted, the amendment would possibly restrict the ability of the legislature to establish even modest safety policies related to weapons.
ICC RELEASES WEBINAR ON ADVANCE CARE DIRECTIVES
The Iowa Catholic Conference’s “Supportive Care Iowa” project has released a webinar to help those seeking guidance on making health care decisions in alignment with Catholic moral teaching. The video can be found on the Iowa Catholic Conference’s YouTube page.
Presenters include:
Deacon Kent Ferris, Director of Social Action and Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Davenport. He is also a Secular Franciscan.
Dr. Janine Marie Idziak, Professor Emerita of Philosophy at Loras College. She currently serves as Chancellor and Consultant for Health Care Ethics for the Archdiocese of Dubuque and is a part of health care committees at the local, state, and national levels.
Deacon Dan Freeman, who received training as a Catholic Advance Care Planning Consultant in 2017 and serves as Parish Life Coordinator at St. Mary Catholic Church in Wilton, Iowa.
To be connected with a trained person to assist in completing advance care directive documents, contact Tom Chapman at the Iowa Catholic Conference, tom@iowacatholicconference.org.
RESPECT LIFE MONTH NEWS UPDATES
There was a hearing last Friday in Polk County District Court on reviving the “heartbeat” abortion ban. The law was passed in 2018 but the district court did not allow it to go into effect then. We think the case will end up in the Iowa Supreme Court.
In a letter to members of Congress, bishop chairmen emphasize the Catholic Church’s vision for an authentically life-affirming society that prioritizes the well-being of families and present policy recommendations to uphold and advance this vision in legislation. The bishops call for “‘radical solidarity’ with mothers, babies (born and preborn) and families throughout each person’s entire lifespan.”
The letter includes a list of several policy recommendations the USCCB has long supported that would improve the well-being of women and families. These include recommendations related to labor protections for pregnant and nursing women, support for pregnancy resource centers, the Child Tax Credit, parental leave policies, childcare, housing, maternal and child health, nutrition, education, adoption support, relationship education and safety, an end to marriage penalties, environmental policies, and care for immigrant families.
Click here for an action alert to send a message in support of the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2022. The bill is awaiting action in the U.S. Senate. H.R. 6552 would do several things to combat the scourge of human trafficking.
Also, observing how recent responses to migrants demonstrate “the troubling convergence of our broken immigration system and the political divisions of our time,” Bishop Mario Dorsonville has issued a reflection on the Catholic Church’s enduring commitment to immigration reform and welcoming the stranger as part of its unwavering defense of human life in all its forms.