Opposition grows to the Chicago Archdiocese plan to honor Senator Proborto

The opposition to the decision of Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, increases to honor the American senator Richard Durbin, a Democrat of Illinois, with a “prize for the trajectory” for his work around immigration policy, despite his extensive history of votes in favor of abortion.

After the criticism of the decision by the Bishop of Springfield, Illinois, Mons. Thomas Paprocki, other bishops have joined and raised the voice against the next ceremony of tribute to Durbin, scheduled for November.

Green Bay’s bishop, Wisconsin, Mons. David Rickn, is among those who criticize the Cupich plan and wrote: “The Chicago Archdiocese plan to grant (to Durbin) a ‘Catholic’ trajectory prize ‘is unsustainable.”

“The works of justice and the protection of life are not mutually exclusive, but must be inclusive,” Rickn continued, and added: “I join (Paprocki) and (to the Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone) to urge (cupich) to withdraw this award. We pray and act together and in a coherent way in favor of life!”

Rickn’s statement comes after similar comments from the archbishop of San Francisco, Mons. Salvatore Cordileone, who spoke against the Cupich Plan earlier this week.

“I sympathize with Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, when Cardinal Cupich urge the concession to the Durbin senator of a prize for the trajectory by the Office of Human Dignity and Solidarity of the Archdiocese of Chicago, given his long career of support for legal abortion,” Cordileone wrote.

“Bishop Paprocki, who is the bishop of Senator Dick Durbin, has expressed his dismay because the archdiocese plans to honor Senator Durbin, who, although he declares himself Catholic, supports access to abortion so radically that he has even opposed the legislation to protect babies born after an attempt to abortion,” Cordileone continued. “Bishop Paprocki is right to affirm that both clarity and unity are at risk. I hope this is a clear call to all members of the body of Christ to pronounce and make clear the serious evil that an innocent life involves taking life.”

In a subsequent publication, Cordileone added: “Imagine this: a prominent member of the United States Senate has a very solid record in defense of human dignity of life in the belly, but also advocates to finance agents of the border patrol to shoot people who try illegally enter the country. Can anyone consider reasonable to honor said senator for their history provident in matters of abortion? direct and intentional innocent human life should be honored.

“I pray that, for the sake of the Church, this award is not awarded to Senator Durbin and the scandal that will probably cause among the faithful is avoided,” the bishop of Lincoln, Nebraska, Mons.

“The public history of the senator has been consistently probort and has opposed any protection or safeguard for children not born in the belly, to the point of rejecting legislation to protect children who survive failed abortions,” Conley wrote. “That goes against the fundamental moral principles of the Catholic Church. It seems to me that there is still time to reconsider this decision.”

Meanwhile, the bishop of Gallup, New Mexico, Mons. James Wall, expressed his support for Paprocki’s position, thanking Springfield’s bishop for his Opinion article in First Things In a publication in social networks on Wednesday morning. Wall cited the encyclical Life From San Juan Paul II in a publication with a link to the article: “The life of man comes from God, is his gift, his image and imprint, participation of his vital breath. Therefore, God is the only lord of this life: man cannot dispose of it.”

Cupich defended his decision in a statement on September 22, in which he wrote: “I have remained faithful to the instructions of May 2021 of the then congregation for the doctrine of faith, which advised the bishops’ approach and establish dialogue with Catholic politicians within their jurisdictions … as a means to understand the nature of their positions and their understanding of the Catholic teaching.”

“In the heart of the consistent ethics of life is the recognition that Catholic teaching about life and dignity cannot be reduced to a single issue, even to such an important issue as abortion,” Cupich continued.

Cupich stressed that Durbin would be honored by his efforts to promote Catholic social doctrine in immigration, care of the poor, Laudato yes and world peace.

“The recognition of their defense of immigrants at this time, when they are subject to terror and damage, is not something that must regret, but a reflection that the Lord is deeply with immigrants who are in danger and with whom they work to protect them,” he said.

Durbin has been forbidden to receive the Eucharist in what was previously informed as his diocese of origin, Springfield – the capital of the state of Illinois – since 2004 due to its history of votes in favor of abortion. In his statement, Cupich said Durbin had moved to the Archdiocese of Chicago “a few years ago.”

They have also pronounced leading leaders. Lila Rose, president of Live Action, condemned the plan to reward Durbin and wrote: “This is shameful. The blood of innocent children cries out.”

Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life, also addressed Cupich in a publication on Tuesday, asking the Chicago archbishop: “If a politician had spent decades voting against laws to stop the live dismemberment of African Americans, Jews or other minority group in the United States, would still give a prize to the care topics?”.

“I don’t believe it,” he said, adding: “They are treating children not born as if they were less than complete people.”

Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA.