Greetings from the chancery of the Diocese of Davenport

As fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, we are all called to serve one another according to our gifts and abilities.  On this website you will find a wealth of information including references, policies, and documents for your use.  My staff is here to assist you.  Please feel free to contact them by phone, e-mail or in person.

Most Rev. Martin J. Amos

Bishop of Davenport

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Diocese's HHS Mandate page


Health and Human Services (HHS) Ruling
Spanish version (pdf)

January 26, 2012
 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 I write to you concerning an alarming and serious matter that negatively impacts the Church in the United States directly and that strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith. 

 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs and contraception.  Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those “services” in the health policies they write.  And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies.

 As a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled either to violate our consciences or to drop health coverage for our employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so).  The Administration’s sole concession was to give our institutions one year to comply.

 We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom. 

 Therefore, I would ask of you two things.  First, as a community of faith we must commit ourselves to prayer that wisdom and justice may prevail and religious liberty may be restored.  Second, I would also recommend visiting the Iowa Catholic Conference website or USCCB websites to learn more about this severe assault on religious liberty and how to contact Congress in support of legislation that would reverse the Administration’s decision. 

 Thank you for your prayers and attention to this critical issue.

 Sincerely in Christ,

Most Rev. Martin Amos
Bishop of Davenport
 
USCCB Page on HHS mandate (including legislative contacts)
Iowa Catholic Conference

A Message to Secular Franciscans from Kent Ferris and Bishop Amos about the HHS Mandate (video)

 

Iowa Catholic bishops send letter to congressional delegation on HHS mandate,
Feb. 14, 2012

To Iowa Catholic Conference Legislative Network:

 

In response to a recent federal Health and Human Services Department mandate, the Catholic bishops of Iowa today sent a letter to members of Iowa’s congressional delegation urging co-sponsorship of the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (H.R. 1179, S. 1467).

 

The HHS mandate will require almost all religious organizations to pay for sterilization and contraceptive coverage (including drugs which can cause abortions) in their health insurance plans for employees. The exemption provided for religious employers is so narrow it fails to cover the vast majority of faith-based organizations that help millions every year.

 

The President announced some changes on Feb. 10 in how that mandate will be administered, although the details are unclear. On the evening of Feb. 10, HHS issued a regulation finalizing the rule first issued in August 2011, without making any changes.

 

The bishops said in their letter, “the mandate will apparently continue to impose an extremely narrow definition of religious institution under which the ministry of Jesus Christ himself would not qualify … In addition, the mandate continues to threaten government coercion of religious people and groups to violate their most deeply held convictions. At a minimum, any 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.”

 

In addition, all four diocesan bishops have sent letters opposing the mandate for distribution in the Catholic parishes of the state. Catholics and others of good will are encouraged to send a message to Congress at www.usccb.org/conscience.

 

The diocesan bishops of Iowa are Dubuque Archbishop Jerome Hanus, OSB; Bishop R. Walker Nickless of Sioux City; Bishop Martin Amos of Davenport, and Bishop Richard Pates of Des Moines.

 

For an update from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ media blog, go to http://usccbmedia.blogspot.com/2012/02/six-more-things-everyone-should-know.html.

 

 

 

Please be patient as this website moves to a new format


The Catholic Messenger video site
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Statement regarding Buchanan Abbey, Independence, Iowa
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Dan Ebener's Book Wins CPA AwardRead more

Diocesan Planning Commission
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Bishop Amos' Vision Planning Video
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New Chancery Phone extensions

  • When the chancery is closed or a diocesan event is cancelled due to severe weather, the staff and public can receive notification through several methods:

    1.       Dial (563) 324-1912 and press three during any part of the receptionist's message.

    2.       Check the Diocesan website home page: www.davenportdiocese.org

    3.       Check the Diocesan Facebook page: www.facebook.com/diodav   www.facebook.com/diodavwww.facebook.com/diodav

Information about chancery closing or diocesan event cancellation

1. Dial (563) 324-1912 and press three (3) during any part of the receptionist’s message.
2. Check the Diocesan website home page – www.davenportdiocese.org
3. Check the Diocesan Facebook page – www.facebook/diodav

If weather conditions indicate that the chancery may be closed and/or a diocesan event may be cancelled and one of the above methods of communication does not indicate a closing, another method should be checked in case technical difficulties prevent the use of a particular method.