Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Letter to Catholics from Iowa Bishops to protect religious freedom
March 20, 2012
Fellow Catholics in Iowa:
As the Catholic bishops of Iowa, we are strongly united in our ongoing efforts to protect religious freedom. Regrettably, a Health and Human Services mandate announced last year will require many Catholic and other religious institutions to cover medical services that are in opposition to their religious beliefs. The president’s announced accommodation still makes an unacceptable distinction between our houses of worship and our ministries, and still requires all non?exempt employers to facilitate the objectionable coverage.
The mandate represents government coercion of religious people and groups to violate their most deeply held convictions. We believe this dispute is not about access to contraceptives but about the government’s forcing the Church to provide them. At a minimum, any federal regulation should fully respect religious freedom and freedom of conscience as enshrined in our Constitution and in particular, the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights.
During this time of Lent, as a community of faith let us commit ourselves to prayer and action. As you know, during the Fridays of Lent, the faithful are obliged to abstain from eating meat. Recognizing the necessity of our dependence on God, we, the Bishops of Iowa, request that all Catholics dedicate the regular Lenten Friday practice of prayer and abstinence as well as the practice of fasting on Friday, March 30, to the preservation of religious liberty. Pray for your Church and political leaders that together we can find a solution that respects our respective roles in society.
Please watch www.usccb.org/conscience and www.iowacatholicconference.org for updated information.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Rev. Jerome Hanus, OSB: Archbishop of Dubuque
Most Rev. R. Walker Nickless: Bishop of Sioux City
Most Rev. Martin Amos: Bishop of Davenport
Most Rev. Richard Pates: Bishop of Des Moines
PRAY FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY!
STOP HHS
JOIN THE FIGHT!
Call
U.S. Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121
Iowa Senate: 515-281-3371
Email Congress through USCCB DOT ORG
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5:30am: 1150 Parish Rosary
7:20am: Eric Scheidler – Executive Director Pro-Life Action League
7:40am: Lenten reflection w/Fr. Vince Rosanke Pastor St. Boniface Church, Waukee
7:45am: Catholic League President Bill Donohue
9:00am: 1150 Parish Spotlight w/Ellen Stemler & Jen Faber, St. Theresa Catholic School
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7:00pm: 1150 KWKY Catholic Radio Morning Show (rebroadcast)
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JEANNE WELLS WEATHER
Today: Chance of Rain – High of 65
Tomorrow: Chance of Rain – High of 66
Saturday: Partly Cloudy – High of 69
PSALM OF THE DAY
Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people
GOSPEL
Jn 5:31-47
Jesus said to the Jews: “If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true. But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true. You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. But you do not want to come to me to have life. “I do not accept human praise; moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
SAINT OF THE DAY
Saint of the Day is sponsored by The Kavanaugh Art Gallery, a family owned fine art gallery located in historic Valley Junction
March 22: St. Nicholas Owen
THURSDAY MASS TIMES
6:30a
St. Theresa (Des Moines)
6:45a
St. Mary of Nazareth (Des Moines)
7a
St. Anthony (Des Moines)
7:15a
St. Francis of Assisi (West Des Moines)
8a
All Saints (Des Moines)
Assumption (Granger)
Holy Trinity (Beaverdale)
Sacred Heart (West Des Moines)
St. Augustin (Des Moines)
St. Boniface (Waukee)
St. Cecilia (Ames)
St. Cecilia (Panora)
St. Joseph (Winterset)
St. Mary Holy Cross (Elkhart)
St. Pius X (Urbandale)
St. Thomas Aquinas (Indianola)
8:15a
St. John the Apostle (Norwalk)
8:30a
Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart (Ankeny)
St. John’s (Adel)
St. Joseph (Des Moines)
8:40a
Christ the King (Des Moines)
St. Anthony (Des Moines)
9am
SS. John and Paul (Altoona)
St. Elizabeth Seton (Carlisle)
Noon
Basilica of St. John (Des Moines)
St. Thomas Aquinas Church & Catholic Student Center (Ames)
12:10p
St. Ambrose Cathedral (Des Moines)
5:00p
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Student Center (Des Moines)
5:30p
Our Lady of Americas
St. Anthony (Des Moines)
St. Cecilia (Ames)
St. Luke the Evangelist mass @ Saint Anne’s Episcopal Church (Ankeny)
6p
St. Pius X (Urbandale)
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1150 KWKY CATHOLIC RADIO PRAYER
Lord Jesus, You commanded your followers to go out and preach the Gospel to all creation. Your servant Blessed Pope John Paul II proclaimed that “radio offers perhaps the closest equivalent today of what Jesus was able to do with large groups through His preaching.”
We ask your guidance for the ministry of 1150 KWKY Catholic Radio that we may affectively and consistently convey your message to Iowa as well as the Diocese of Des Moines and remain faithful to the teachings and values of the Catholic Church. Empower the 1150 KWKY Catholic radio staff to walk with you and to labor beside you in their efforts.
Inspire all listeners today through the grace of your Holy Spirit to understand more fully your desire for them and through the ministry of Catholic radio, touch their hearts and change their lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
