Report from the Iowa Catholic Conference

Republicans will return next year to the Iowa Capitol with an increased number of seats. In the Senate, Republicans will have 35 members, an increase of one, compared to 15 for the Democrats. In the House, it’s looking like Republicans will have 67 seats, a gain of three, with 33 Democratic members. 

The 91st session of the General Assembly will begin on Jan. 13, 2025. You can click here for a comprehensive resource about how the legislature functions.

State ballot initiatives of interest

Ballot measures extending the right to legal abortion passed in Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, New York, and Nevada. In Florida, a measure extending legal abortion to 24 weeks failed to meet the state’s 60% threshold. Pro-abortion rights measures were defeated in South Dakota and Nebraska.

On the issue of school choice, it appears that Nebraskans voted to end its state-funded private school student scholarship program, and school choice initiatives lost in Kentucky and Colorado.

Arizona voters approved a ballot measure that is similar to Iowa’s new “illegal re-entry” immigration law. While the Iowa law is not currently in effect, a federal circuit court considering its constitutionality is expected to render a decision during the next few months.

West Virginia passed a constitutional amendment banning assisted suicide.

The Constitution of Iowa does not provide for citizen ballot initiatives.

U.S. bishops’ president calls for prayers and unity following the presidential election

Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has issued a statement following the results of the presidential election. 

Archbishop Broglio’s statement follows:

“In the United States, we are fortunate to live in a democracy and yesterday Americans went to the polls to choose who should lead our country as the next President of the United States. I congratulate President-elect Trump, as well as the national, state and local officials who campaigned to represent the people. Now, we move from campaigning to governing. We rejoice in our ability to transition peacefully from one government to the next.

“The Catholic Church is not aligned with any political party, and neither is the bishops’ conference. No matter who occupies the White House or holds the majority on Capitol Hill, the Church’s teachings remain unchanged, and we bishops look forward to working with the people’s elected representatives to advance the common good of all. As Christians, and as Americans, we have the duty to treat each other with charity, respect, and civility, even if we may disagree on how to carry out matters of public policy. As a Nation blessed with many gifts we must also be concerned for those outside our borders and eager to offer assistance to all.

“Let us pray for President-elect Trump, as well as all leaders in public life, that they may rise to meet the responsibilities entrusted to them as they serve our country and those whom they represent. Let us ask for the intercession of our Blessed Mother, the patroness of our nation, that she guide to uphold the common good of all and promote the dignity of the human person, especially the most vulnerable among us, including the unborn, the poor, the stranger, the elderly and infirm, and migrants.”

COP 29 convenes

Consider the impact of climate change policies on the poor and vulnerable, said bishop chairmen who lead committees of the USCCB that address climate policy. The two bishops were joined by the president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services (CRS). In advance of the gathering of world leaders in Azerbaijan for the United Nations’ annual meeting on climate, COP29, Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, and Mr. Sean Callahan released a statement calling on delegates and policymakers attending the meeting to remember the poor and vulnerable in their deliberations.

The statement said, in part, “The poor and vulnerable suffer the brunt of intensifying disasters, which is why adopting effective adaptation investment strategies is a matter of justice. While resources and proven technologies to withstand many natural and man-made disasters already exist, sadly these are often a privilege for the wealthy.”

And finally,

Today we observe Veteran’s Day – thanks to all those who served!