New Laws Only a Christian Nationalist Could Love

But we hate Sharia Law! 

by Doug Smith

June 10, 2026

Gov. Reynolds recently signed two new bills into law, both of which have a strong whiff of Christian nationalism.  Senate File 304 changes consent rules regarding HPV vaccination from minors to parents.  Human Papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted disease that can cause cancer, and the vaccine is most effective when given in the early teen years.  A vaccine that can prevent cancer?  What’s the problem? 

The “abstinence-only” crowd within evangelicalism believes that if you take away the risk of cancer from young people, it will just encourage them to have sex.  They don’t want the vaccine for their children because they’d literally rather have a dead child than one who might have premarital sex.  They choose to ignore the possibility that HPV can also be passed through non-consensual sexual violence. 

The law up until now allowed for minors to receive the vaccine with their own consent.  But as of July 1^st, juveniles will no longer have that right… it will require parental consent.  Kids with Christian nationalist parents are out of luck.  As Rep. Austin Baeth (D-Des Moines) said, “This is a pro-cancer bill, period.” 

The other new law pushed by Christian nationalists is House File 571, known as the “Medical Ethics Defense Act.”  Starting July 1^st, it will protect healthcare providers, facilities, and insurance companies that refuse to provide medical care based on moral, ethical, or religious objections.  This covers anything a person might object to, from administering vaccines to contraceptives to reproductive care and gender-affirming care.  The law further allows religion-based health care entities (like Mercy One) to make employment, staffing, contracting and admitting-privilege decisions consistent with their religious beliefs.

In other words, “I have the right to hold YOU to MY religious/moral/ethical beliefs.”  Just like 60 years ago, when white business owners believed they had the religious/moral/ethical right to refuse service to black people at lunch counters and to send them to the back of the bus.  We solved that problem by passing laws that say everyone is welcome to use any public accommodation.  If your job is to serve the public, you must serve ALL of the public.  Not anymore… not in Iowa anyway. 

Is this the Iowa you want?  Is this the Iowa you voted for?  Christian nationalists, from Gov. Reynolds on down, have turned Iowa into a theocratic state!  Are you going to let this stand?  Or are you going to get into the fight for a rational government that serves all Iowans?  This November, let’s vote out all Christian nationalists.  We don’t have to live like this! 

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