Roe v. Wade Overturned!
Thanks be to God! The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade!

“We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled. The Constitution does not prohibit the citizens of each State from regulating or prohibiting abortion. Roe and Casey arrogated that authority. We now overrule those decisions and return that authority to the people and their elected representatives."

Thank you for your tireless advocacy, fasting, and prayers for life! Over the years many people have stayed on the sidelines and out of the conversation about abortion. We pray this monumental decision will awaken hearts and minds to our educational outreach and the availability of resources for women and families at the local level.

 As we shared with you last week, the Iowa Supreme Court corrected their 2018 decision and recognized there is no fundamental right to abortion in the state constitution. While we rejoice in this decision, we also recognize the need to continue to advocate for passage of the Protect Life Amendment to guard against future judges who want to rewrite the people's constitution and override the voice of Iowans.

We cannot establish a just society until every person receives protection under law, from conception to natural death. We pray for our country and our state, that the preborn would be protected, that women and men who have experienced abortion will find forgiveness and healing, and that those struggling with difficult pregnancies will find help and hope. 

"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."   2 Chronicles 7:14
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HOPE AND HEALING AFTER ABORTION​

Project Rachel is a confidential, post-abortion healing ministry of the Catholic Church offering hope and healing to women and men hurting from past abortions.  Project Rachel staff understand the emotional pain that follows an abortion.
Local Helpline: 563-333-4107
Calls answered personally 
Monday, Wednesday and Friday
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Voice messaging available all other times. 
All calls returned promptly and discreetly.
National Helpline 1-888-456-HOPE
E-Mail: projectrachel@diodav.org

I'm Not Just Pro-Saving Babies
by Sarah Kopriva, Executive Director of Guiding Star Cedar Valley

I’ve been seeing this post on social media shared time and time again in defense of women in very, very difficult situations and proposing abortion as the answer to help build a case for the “right” our nation is fighting to keep, and I applaud the humanity it brings to heartbreak and horror. It has been successful in helping me and many others “see her” and in trying to help us envision how difficult these situations really are.

However, as someone who is pro-life, and as a person who works in women's health and understands the reproductive process and the true definition of abortion, I’m concerned about how misleading some of the pro-choice propaganda has been.

I have been pondering and praying intently over how I might address each of these women and how I might help people understand things like D&Cs after a miscarriage aren’t an abortion procedure because sadly, that baby has already passed. Also, I’ve been thinking through what I would want to be able to offer women in these hard situations, knowing the pain, the fear, the doubt, the panic they are experiencing is immense. How could I look them in the eyes and assure them that everything is going to be ok, and truly walk alongside them in that?

I am not one who enjoys conflict - often, regrettably, I prefer to hide from it. In writing this post, I know I am entering an arena that is calling me to courage. But also to compassion, to understanding, to generosity and personal sacrifice. I know my ideas won’t invariably be welcomed with open arms, but I am truly feeling called to offer some alternatives to hopefully produce critical thinking and fruitful discussion about how these situations could look if we identified our rights and allocated our resources differently to care for both women and babies.

I am also one who feels this “battlefield” of social media isn’t the right place to have these conversations. In light of that, please know I would welcome anyone to reach out to me privately to have a coffee or dinner to explore what I propose. This post is here to create thoughts, and I’ve always felt healthy debate should happen in person.

It’s funny to sit with something for so long and at the end of putting it all down I’m not sure who I’m even writing this for- maybe others in the pro-life movement needing encouragement or talking points? Maybe someone on the fence about all the commotion? Maybe for those in the pro-choice community who are open to coming to the table for conversation? But I just can’t sit and stay silent. It doesn’t feel right.

So please, hear me out, consider and value my ideas, and ponder a different vision for all of this… I believe we can do better.

So without further explanation, please know…

I'm not just pro-saving babies.
(referenced social media post in italics)

“I'm pro-Becky who found out at her 20 week anatomy scan that the infant she had been so excited to bring into this world had developed without life-sustaining organs.”

I’m pro- her mental, emotional, and spiritual health, and the ability to walk with her throughout a pregnancy she knows is going to ultimately end in the death of her child. I’m also pro-baby Anna, who, while her life will inevitably be short, her dignity as a human person also deserves to be maintained and her end-of-life care should be no less than that of anyone else. Coming around both Becky and Anna with perinatal hospice, mental health counseling, spiritual support, and an overall respect for the difficult process of child-loss should be the right we are fighting for.

Continue reading HERE