Archdiocese of Chicago’s Controversial Decision
Last week, Cardinal Blase Cupich announced that he would present Senator Dick Durbin from Illinois with a Lifetime Achievement Award on November 3rd. This decision has raised eyebrows and sparked significant backlash among prominent Catholic leaders.
One notable reaction came from Bishop Thomas Paprocki, who stated, “This decision risks causing serious scandals and confusing faithful people with clear teachings about the sanctity of human life in the Church.”
According to the Susan B. Anthony Prolife America’s Scorecard, which labels itself pro-life, Durbin, a self-identified Catholic, frequently votes in favor of pro-abortion measures, receiving failing grades for his actions. For instance, he voted against the Abortion Survivors Protection Act and also opposed a law to criminalize abortions after 20 weeks.
His stance is not just a recent development—back in June, Durbin remarked that the fight for women’s reproductive rights is ongoing and expressed a commitment to defending these rights following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision.
The Catholic Church views abortion as a significant moral sin, with teachings that emphasize the importance of protecting human life from the moment of conception. Canon law supports the notion of excommunication for those who formally cooperate in abortion.
- “Human life must be absolutely respected and protected from the moment of conception.”
- Across history, the Church has condemned all forms of abortion, emphasizing the moral evils tied to it.
- Formal cooperation in abortion is treated as a grave crime warranting excommunication.
- Rights recognized by civil society and political authorities must be respected, independent of individual parents.
Durbin has reportedly been barred from receiving communion in Catholic parishes due to his pro-abortion alignment, with Bishop Paprocki reiterating that this will remain the case until Durbin repents. The Bishop has long criticized Durbin’s voting record, deeming it a persistent affront to moral law.
Yet, despite the backlash and criticism from figures like Paprocki, the Archdiocese is proceeding with its event titled “Light in the Darkness,” celebrating Durbin’s contributions. Cardinal Cupich will present the award on behalf of the Archdiocese’s Human Dignity and Solidarity department.
In reaction to the honor, Mary Kate Xander from Illinois Right to Life expressed discontent, suggesting that the Church’s teachings demand adherence to the sanctity of human life and cannot be selectively ignored.
Bishop Paprocki was particularly surprised by the decision to honor Durbin, citing his longstanding support for legal abortion as contradictory to the Church’s values. He stressed that celebrating individuals who promote abortion undermines the principles of human dignity the award is supposed to recognize.
This sentiment was echoed by Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, who noted that both clarity and unity within the faith community are at stake here.
Overall, it appears that the award’s presentation is stirring deep divisions among Catholic leaders, putting the Church’s moral teachings and their application in complex political contexts under scrutiny.
