Labor Day update from the Iowa Catholic Conference

Pray and advocate for the protection of all who work

“Our faith calls us to pray, work, and advocate for protections that allow all laborers to thrive,” said Archbishop Borys Gudziak and Bishop Mark J. Seitz in a joint reflection for Labor Day (Sept. 2). The bishop chairmen called for a more just economy that honors the human dignity of all who labor, inclusive of those who have newly arrived in the country, as well as those whose families have been here for generations.

Archbishop Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia is chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Bishop Seitz of El Paso is chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration. The full Labor Day statement is available here (Spanish).

Before voting, consider the principle of subsidiarity

The principle of subsidiarity reminds us of the importance of local institutions and community bonds. Larger institutions in society (such as the government) should not overwhelm or interfere with smaller or local institutions such as the family, local schools, or the Church. Yet larger institutions have essential responsibilities when local institutions cannot adequately protect human dignity, meet human needs, or advance the common good.

Please look over the documents on subsidiarity and other principles and watch the video, “Faithful Catholics Work with Christ as He Builds His Kingdom” on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ YouTube page, https://www.youtube.com/@UsccbOrg.

Any registered voter in Iowa may now request an absentee ballot through their county auditor, although it may not arrive until mid-October.

Groups mark the 60th anniversary of SNAP in Iowa

Nonprofit organizations and governmental groups are commemorating the 60th anniversary of the passage of the Food Stamp Act of 1964, which established the program now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“SNAP continues to be the best tool we have to address hunger and food insecurity in Iowa,” said Luke Elzinga, board chair of the Iowa Hunger Coalition. “Supporting the nutrition of our neighbors through SNAP is not only critical to their health and well-being, it is an investment in the future of our state.”

There are currently 266,000 Iowans enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, making up 7.4% of the state’s population. The average SNAP benefit for households in Iowa is $324 per month. SNAP contributes an estimated $68 million in total economic activity in the state of Iowa every month.

Iowans can apply for SNAP online, through a paper application, or over the phone by calling the Iowa SNAP Hotline at (855) 944-FOOD (3663).

Look up openings for childcare

Iowa is launching a new website that allows families to look up openings at childcare providers around the state. The site, Iowa Child Care Connect, can be found at iachildcareconnect.org. It maps more than 3,000 childcare providers around Iowa and lists information such as whether they have vacancies, quality ratings and complaints, hours of operation, which ages they accept and whether they take state childcare assistance funds.