The Archdiocese of Chicago, headed by Cardinal Blase Cupich – known for being politically and theologically liberal – will be honoring pro-abortion Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois at a Nov. 3 fundraiser “for his work with immigrants.”

(An important side note: As of this writing, Cupich hasn’t released a statement on the assassination of Charlie Kirk, but he did release a statement on May 31, 2020 “on the murder of George Floyd and its aftermath.”)

From The Pillar:

While the award will be presented at a benefit presided over by [Cupich], Durbin’s own diocesan bishop – Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield – called the decision scandalous.

‘I was shocked to learn that the Archdiocese of Chicago plans to honor Senator Richard Durbin with a Lifetime Achievement Award,’ Paprocki said in a Sept. 19 statement given in response to questions from The Pillar.

‘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,’ Paprocki added.

‘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,’ the bishop said.

Durbin has been prohibited from receiving Holy Communion since 2004 in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.

Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco voiced his support for Paprocki in a Sept. 21 post on X:

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.

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. 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.

Cupich released a statement on Sept. 22 giving his rationale:

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 had purchased a condo 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.

Ah, the old “seamless garment” argument. Well, we know Cupich wouldn’t think of honoring an anti-abortion government official who favors firearms rights, the death penalty and restrictions on immigration. But he has no issue with honoring an official who supports unrestricted abortion, which the Church teaches “is gravely contrary to the moral law.”

Mary Kate Zander, president of Illinois Right to Life (an organization I worked for many years ago), wrote in a Sept. 22 email to supporters: “I invite you to join me on Monday, November 3, 2025 outside of St. Ignatius College Prep to peacefully protest the presentation of this award to Senator Durbin at the Archdiocese of Chicago's 'Keep Hope Alive' Benefit.”