DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa’s law banning abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected, as early as six weeks into pregnancy, will take effect July 29, after a Polk County District judge lifted the injunction against the law. The law will take effect one month after the Iowa Supreme Court, in a 4-3 decision, reversed a district court judge’s decision that blocked enforcement of the statute. The Iowa Supreme Court remanded the case to dissolve the temporary injunction back to Polk County District Court. “We’re pleased to see that the heartbeat abortion law can be enforced. As the Iowa bishops have said, ‘Human life is precious and should be protected in our laws to the greatest extent possible,’” said Tom Chapman, executive director of the Iowa Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the state’s bishops.
