The recent movement of 27 governors in the United States to apparently oppose entrance to Syrian refugees to their respective states (CNN, 11/16/2015) revives an embarrassing experience in our country’s history...

Please see the attached press release from the four bishops of Iowa regarding the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Persecution of Christians and other non-Islamic faiths has reached appalling proportions in the Middle East. Many have died and many more are displaced, running for some place of refuge from the attacking extremists. The Middle East, the cradle of the faith for Christians, Jewish and Muslims, is not a place of co-existence but a broad and shifting war zone where various factions maneuver for dominance and power. Iraq, Syria and Gaza are now places where violence is directed at so many Christians and others who seek just to protect their children and survive. Life with peace and dignity is impossible...

A November 2013 report from the U.S. Catholic bishops’ Committee on Migration alerted us to the ongoing increase in migration of unaccompanied children across the border. More than 52,000 unaccompanied children have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border since the beginning of the year...

From Most Rev. Martin Amos, Bishop of Davenport: “I am deeply saddened by the news we heard today of the abuse in Hinsdale, Illinois by James Janssen in the 1950’s that was found credible by the Diocese of Joliet. I was unaware of the recent report made to the Archdiocese of Chicago by a person who was abused by Janssen over 50 years ago. James Janssen was laicized (defrocked) by the Vatican in 2004 and no longer functions as a priest. I continue to pray and urge everyone to pray that the healing process for the survivors of abuse will continue.”...

From Bishop Amos, Bishop of Davenport: The Diocese of Davenport is deeply disappointed in the ruling today by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding two cases relating to marriage. The Diocese joined the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and other organizations and individuals in urging the Court to uphold both the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and Proposition 8...

From Bishop Martin Amos, Bishop of Davenport: Fr. Harness has been reinstated as pastor of Holy Family Parish in Davenport.  After an extensive month-long investigation by Detective James Sweeney, Sweeney & Associates, the Diocese of Davenport Review Board advised me that Father Harness should be restored to ministry.  Father Harness will resume his ministry immediately...

We, the Catholic bishops of Iowa, are grateful that the governor and the Iowa Legislature are debating how to make health care coverage more readily available to low-income Iowans...

From Bishop Amos: The Diocese of Davenport has received a report which states that Father Robert Harness, Pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Davenport, inappropriately touched a minor in approximately 1990. The Diocese has reported this to the Scott County Attorney in compliance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Diocese and the County Attorney...