Several Catholic leaders, including the bishop of Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin’s home diocese, have responded approvingly to the pro-abortion politician’s decision to decline a controversial lifetime achievement award from the Archdiocese of Chicago.
The reactions come in response to a Sept. 30 statement from Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, announcing Durbin’s choice. Cardinal Cupich’s initial plan to honor Durbin was met with widespread backlash from faithful Catholics who objected to formally celebrating the political career of a strident defender of abortion and other evils condemned by Catholic teachings.
Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, said Oct. 1 that he was “grateful” Durbin decided not to accept the award.
“As we begin Respect Life Month,” Paprocki added, “I ask that all Catholics continue to pray for our Church, our country, and for the human dignity of all people to be respected in all stages of life including the unborn and immigrants.”
From Bishop Thomas John Paprocki:
— CatholicVote (@CatholicVote) October 1, 2025
"I am grateful Sen. Durbin has declined this Lifetime Achievement Award. As we begin Respect Life Month, I ask that all Catholics continue to pray for our Church, our country, and for the human dignity of all people to be respected in all stages… pic.twitter.com/EcmCUPz3cc
Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington, Virginia, stated that he was “relieved” by Durbin’s decision.
I am relieved to hear that Sen. Dick Durbin has chosen to decline a Lifetime Achievement Award which was to be awarded by the Archdiocese of Chicago.
— Bishop Michael F. Burbidge (@BishopBurbidge) October 1, 2025
Cardinal Cupich now appeals for suggestions on how the Church might move forward in unity. As Pope Leo XIV's motto reminds us,…
Bishop Burbidge went on to address Cardinal Cupich’s statement on the matter, in which the Chicago archbishop sought input on how to approach future controversies among Catholics in a way that promotes unity.
“Certainly, we can only move forward together if we recognize that our unity as a Christian people depends upon our responding with daily fidelity to our Lord and by our witness to the Gospel of Life,” Burbidge wrote.
He argued that politicians must uphold the natural law, especially as it applies to innocent life, and Catholic clergy must look out for the spiritual welfare of Catholic politicians when they fall short of that duty.
“The Church must continue to boldly proclaim the Gospel of Life in its entirety,” Bishop Burbidge wrote. “Our public witness to the Gospel, to convincingly move hearts and minds to conversion, will always require that the Church show the hierarchy and unity of all truths. A consistent ethic of life requires the faithful proclamation of challenging teachings just as it also requires the avoidance of scandal from actions that would convey ambiguity or indifference to the moral law.”
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco publicly thanked Durbin “for his great display of magnanimity in declining the Lifetime Achievement Award.”
“In such a contentious issue that threatens even greater division, Senator Durbin chose to take the higher moral ground,” the archbishop wrote. “Such an act required tremendous humility on his part. We need more humility in our country.”
Compliments to Senator Dick Durbin for his great display of magnanimity in declining the Lifetime Achievement Award. In such a contentious issue that threatens even greater division, Senator Durbin chose to take the higher moral ground. Such an act required tremendous humility on…
— Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone (@ArchCordileone) October 1, 2025
In comments to a reporter on Sept. 30, Pope Leo had suggested that, while he was not very familiar with the controversy, it seemed suitable to honor Durbin for his 40 years of public service unrelated to abortion. As CatholicVote reported, the Pope also argued that one can oppose abortion but, by supporting the death penalty or the “inhuman” treatment of migrants, fail to live fully up to any claim of being truly “pro-life.”
CatholicVote President Kelsey Reinhardt pointed out in an Oct. 1 response to Durbin’s choice that the Holy Father, known for his humility, had noted “he did not have all the facts.”
“But one man did: Bishop Paprocki,” Reinhardt said. “As Durbin’s shepherd, he has dialogued, discussed and carefully made the decision to prohibit the senator from receiving Holy Communion, something infinitely more valuable than an achievement award. We respect the judgment of the bishop closest to the facts and look forward to informing Pope Leo about Durbin’s decades-long pro-abortion, pro-transgender stance.”
CatholicVote had joined several U.S. bishops in opposing Cardinal Cupich’s plan to honor Durbin.
“The importance of Senator Durbin declining the award offered by Cardinal Cupich cannot be overstated,” Reinhardt said. “Not only was the public outcry enormous — in just a week, 40,000 people messaged the Cardinal’s office from CatholicVote alone — he came to see what the Cardinal did not: Catholics are the backbone of the pro-life movement, and they will stand and witness to life at every turn.”