“Given Senator Durbin’s long and consistent record of supporting legal abortion, this decision risks causing grave scandal, confusing the faithful about the Church’s unequivocal teaching on the sanctity of human life.”
— Bishop Thomas Paprocki
From OSV News:
The Archdiocese of Chicago is scheduled to present Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., a “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his work on immigration issues in November, but the decision has been criticized by some Catholic bishops over Durbin’s public position on abortion.
Some have argued as well that presenting the award contradicts archdiocesan policy.
The Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Human Dignity and Solidarity Immigration Ministry and Cardinal Blase J. Cupich are scheduled to give Durbin, who is Catholic, the award at an event supporting the Archdiocese of Chicago’s local Immigration Ministry and National Pastoral Migratoria.
On its website, the archdiocese said, “We will recognize community leaders whose generous work and dedication have helped to advance our mission in the Archdiocese of Chicago and beyond,” noting Durbin would receive the award “for his work with immigrants.”
But Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, in whose diocese Durbin resides, said in comments to The Pillar that he was “shocked” by the announcement due to Durbin’s public position on abortion.
“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,” Bishop Paprocki said in the article published Sept. 20.
In a Sept. 21 post on X, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco wrote that he “stand(s) 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,” he said. “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.”
The Diocese of Springfield has barred Durbin from receiving Communion in his home diocese over his position on abortion.
