CHICAGO (LifeSiteNews) — Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich has dismissed warnings by two prominent bishops that he risks “grave scandal” if he goes through with his plan to honor radical pro-abortion Senator Dick Durbin (D–Illinois) with a lifetime achievement award.
Durbin, a professed Catholic, has been barred from receiving Communion in his home diocese in Springfield, Illinois, since 2004.
Cupich excused his decision to honor Durbin – who during his nearly three-decade tenure in the U.S. Senate has consistently opposed pro-life principles and supported unrestricted abortion, including partial-birth abortion – claiming that “Catholic teaching on life and dignity cannot be reduced to a single issue, even an issue as important as abortion.”
“Gauging responses on social media, most Catholics aren’t buying what Cupich is trying to sell,” noted the Catholic watchdog site Complicit Clergy.
“Instead of acknowledging his mistake, Cardinal Cupich turns his back on his brother bishops and doubles-down on his original decision,” said the watchdog group. “Cupich once again employs the tired arguments of Cardinal Bernadine’s seamless garment in trying to justify his decision to give an award to a pro-abortion politician. Cupich’s response fails to mention Durbin’s other anti-Catholic votes, such as his support for LGBTQ+ issues.”
Cupich’s intention to honor Durbin also appears to be in direct violation of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s published norms.
“Cdl. Cupich ignores the laws of his own archdiocese,” observed a post by the Lepanto Institute on X. “Is anyone surprised?”
Lepanto included a screenshot of the policy.
Cdl. Cupich ignores the laws of his own archdiocese. Is anyone surprised? pic.twitter.com/epQVrxxwaZ
— Lepanto Institute (@LepantoInst) September 23, 2025
On Monday, Cupich issued a statement that was clearly a response to criticism from Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco and Durbin’s diocesan bishop, Bishop Thomas Paprocki, who opposed Cupich’s plan to honor Durbin:
Recently some have criticized the decision of the Archdiocese of Chicago to recognize Senator Dick Durbin at our annual fundraiser for our immigration ministry, Keep Hope Alive.
Senator Durbin informed me some years ago that he has taken up residence in Chicago, registered in a parish of the archdiocese and considers me to be his bishop. Accordingly, I have remained faithful to the May 2021 instructions of the then-Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, advising bishops to “reach out to and engage in dialogue with Catholic politicians within their jurisdictions…as a means of understanding the nature of their positions and their comprehension of Catholic teaching.”
At the heart of the consistent ethic of life is the recognition that Catholic teaching on life and dignity cannot be reduced to a single issue, even an issue as important as abortion. The annual celebration of immigrants, Keep Hope Alive, will recognize all the critically important contributions Senator Durbin has taken to advance Catholic social teaching in the areas of immigration, the care of the poor, Laudato Si’, and world peace. 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.
Cardinal Cupich responds to criticism of his decision to honor pro-abortion Senator Dick Durbin with a “lifetime achievement award” given by the Archdiocese of Chicago’s human dignity office. pic.twitter.com/K4iKiXRdzp
— Jonathan Liedl (@JLLiedl) September 22, 2025
“I was shocked to learn that the Archdiocese of Chicago plans to honor Senator Richard Durbin with a Lifetime Achievement Award,” Bishop Paprocki told The Pillar late last week after news of Cupich’s intention came to light.
“Given Senator Durbin’s long and consistent record of supporting legal abortion — including opposing legislation to protect children who survive failed abortions – this decision risks causing grave scandal, confusing the faithful about the Church’s unequivocal teaching on the sanctity of human life,” said the prelate.
“Honoring a public figure who has actively worked to expand and entrench the right to end innocent human life in the womb undermines the very concept of human dignity and solidarity that the award purports to uphold,” continued Durbin’s home bishop.
“The U.S. bishops have clearly taught that support for abortion disqualifies individuals from receiving honors from Catholic institutions,” said Bishop Paprocki, who further explained that the Chicago archdiocese’s plan to award Durbin “sows confusion about the seriousness of abortion and the integrity of Catholic witness in public life. I urge Cardinal Cupich to reconsider this action for the sake of clarity, unity, and fidelity to the Gospel of Life.”
“I stand in solidarity with Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, in urging Cardinal Cupich to reconsider giving Senator Durbin a Lifetime Achievement Award through the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Human Dignity and Solidarity given his long record of supporting legal abortion,” wrote Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone on X.
“Bishop Paprocki, who is Senator Dick Durbin’s bishop, has expressed shock that the Archdiocese plans to honor Senator Durbin who, although a self-professed Catholic, supports access to abortion so radically that he has even opposed legislation to protect babies born after an attempted abortion,” said Archbishop Cordileone. “Bishop 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.”
