Iowa

The Latest

Bishop Thomas Zinkula, who has led the Diocese of Davenport, Iowa since 2017, was named the next archbishop of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa, on July 26, 2023.

Pope Francis names Davenport, Iowa’s Bishop Zinkula to lead Archdiocese of Dubuque

Jul 26, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus, Jonathan Liedl

Bishop Thomas Zinkula, 66, has led the Davenport Diocese in southeast Iowa since 2017.  Read more

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Judge temporarily blocks Iowa heartbeat law

Jul 18, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

The judge’s order means that abortion remains legal in Iowa for up to 20 weeks of pregnancy while legal challenges... Read more

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Planned Parenthood asks court to block 6-week abortion ban in Iowa

Jul 12, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

Pro-abortion groups are asking a district court to block Iowa from enforcing a six-week abortion ban that the Republican governor... Read more

Iowa state capitol building in Des Moines, Iowa.

Iowa governor calls special session to consider abortion restrictions

Jul 6, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

Lawmakers will consider new abortion restrictions after the last effort was halted by the state Supreme Court. Read more

The Agape Pregnancy Resource Center in Des Moines, Iowa, was vandalized in June 2022.

FBI offers $15,000 for help identifying suspect in pro-life pregnancy center vandalism

May 10, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

The bureau is offering the reward for information on the vandal or vandals of Pregnancy Resource Center in Des Moines,... Read more

A summer day with a row of school buses stands out in the green farmlands.

New Iowa ‘school choice’ program a boon for Catholic schools, bishop says

Jan 27, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

Students who attend Iowa Catholic schools will soon get a financial boost of nearly $7,600 per year. Read more

A student walks across campus at the University of Iowa, in Iowa City, Iowa.

Federal court: University of Iowa officials personally liable for mistreating Christian group

Mar 23, 2021

University of Iowa officials who wrongly de-recognized a Christian student group for objecting to same-sex relationships can be held personally... Read more

The Iowa capitol. Credit: Henryk Sadura/Shutterstock.

Iowa religious freedom bill sets 'highest standard' for government, backers say

Feb 27, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

An effort to restore strong religious freedom protections in Iowa has the backing of the state Catholic conference and others... Read more

Iowa State Capitol building in Des Moines.

Iowa lawmakers advance constitutional amendment to exclude ‘right to abortion’

Jan 30, 2021

By CNA Staff

Lawmakers in Iowa this week passed a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state constitution which would exclude a... Read more

A student walks across campus at the University of Iowa, in Iowa City, Iowa.

University of Iowa 'targeted' Christian group, lawyers argue

Sep 23, 2020

By Christine Rousselle

Lawyers representing a Christian group kicked off of a college campus over its religious beliefs have said they are confident... Read more

Ultrasound.

Pro-life laws advance in Iowa, Mississippi, Tennessee

Jun 25, 2020

Three state legislatures have passed new restrictions on abortion: a heartbeat-based abortion ban in Tennessee; a 24-hour waiting period on... Read more

University spiritual life dean appointed Des Moines bishop

Jul 18, 2019

Pope Francis appointed Fr. William Joensen, a priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque and philosophy professor at a local college,... Read more

Iowa bishops to cooperate with attorney general’s request for abuse records

Jun 5, 2019

The Catholic bishops of Iowa have agreed to voluntarily hand over records on clerical sex abuse allegations in their dioceses,... Read more

Iowa State Capitol building in Des Moines.

After judicial setback, Iowa lawmakers pursue other pro-life goals

Feb 26, 2019

An Iowa Supreme Court decision declaring abortion to be a fundamental right bars the way to appeal a ruling against... Read more

Judge rules in favor of Christian club kicked off Iowa campus

Feb 9, 2019

A federal court ruled Wednesday that a Christian club at an Iowa college cannot be kicked off campus due to... Read more

Iowa judge temporarily blocks heartbeat abortion ban

Jun 1, 2018

By Christine Rousselle

An Iowa judge is temporarily blocking the state’s newly-signed “heartbeat bill” from going into effect, he announced on Friday.  Read more

Iowa governor signs Fetal Heartbeat Bill into law

May 4, 2018

By Christine Rousselle

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) on Friday afternoon signed into law the Fetal Heartbeat Bill, which prohibits doctors from performing... Read more

Bishop R. Walker Nickless of Sious City. CNA flie photo

Bishop praises ‘life-giving intent’ of Iowa’s fetal heartbeat bill

May 3, 2018

By Perry West

An Iowa bishop said that a bill banning abortions after detection of a fetal heartbeat “affirms the life-giving intent” of... Read more

Iowa Senate passes fetal heartbeat abortion ban

Mar 1, 2018

On Wednesday, the Iowa Senate approved a measure 30-20 that would prohibit abortions in the state after a baby’s heartbeat... Read more

Police officers secure the crime scene where a Des Moines police officer was shot and killed in his squad car overnight on Nov. 2, 2016, Iowa.

In Iowa, prayers for police officers ambushed and killed

Nov 2, 2016

In the wake of fatal shootings of two Iowa police officers in apparent ambushes, Bishop Richard Pates of Des Moines... Read more