A Chicago Catholic bishop’s decision to honor Illinois Democrat Sen. Dick Durbin has drawn criticism within the Catholic community, with major figures in the church pointing to his long support for abortion as disqualifying him from being honored as a lawmaker.
The Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Human Dignity and Solidarity Immigration Ministry is scheduled to award Durbin a “Lifetime Achievement Award for support to immigrants” at a Nov. 3 fundraiser at St. Ignatius College Prep, a Jesuit high school. Archbishop Blase Cupich will be present at the event.
The announcement has been met with backlash from Springfield, Illinois, Bishop Thomas Paprocki, who penned an essay in First Things magazine titled “Sen. Durbin Is Unfit to Receive Any Catholic Honor,” pointing to Durbin’s support of abortion.
Durbin has bemoaned the Supreme Court’s overturning of the Roe v. Wade decision that had guaranteed a national right to abortion, has worked to codify the “right” to abortion in federal law, and has been a vocal opponent of attempts to restrict access to abortifacient drugs.
He holds a 100% grade on Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s congressional scorecard, which grades lawmakers’ alignment with the abortion organization’s goals.
Paprocki has been joined in his criticisms by several other bishops, such as Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay, Wisconsin, who wrote on X that “Works of justice & protecting life are not mutually exclusive but must be inclusive. Abortion violates ‘Thou shalt not kill.’” He urged Cupich to “retract this award.”
San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone similarly wrote on X that Paprocki is “correct that both clarity and unity are at risk.”
“I hope this will be a clarion call to all members of the Body of Christ to speak out to make clear the grave evil that is the taking of innocent human life,” he added in his statement.
There has also been backlash among prominent conservative Catholic laypeople.
Kevin Roberts, who leads The Heritage Foundation, wrote on X that Durbin’s legacy “will always be the countless lives of unborn children that he had a hand in murdering” and that “honoring Durbin mocks the Church’s witness to life.”
Moreover, Roberts said that Durbin’s work on the immigration issue is merely “corruption, undermining our laws.”
Lila Rose, who heads the pro-life organization Live Action, called the decision “shameful,” adding that “the blood of innocent children cries out.”
Cupich has defended his decision, writing in a statement that “the recognition of his defense of immigrants at this moment, when they are subjected to terror and harm, is not something to be regretted, but a reflection that the Lord stands profoundly with both immigrants who are in danger and those who work to protect them.”
The Daily Signal reached out to Durbin’s office and the Archdiocese of Chicago, but neither provided additional comment.
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