A Roman Catholic cardinal facing criticism over his intention to honor a pro-abortion lawmaker is defending his decision despite warnings that giving the senator a Lifetime Achievement Award would cause “grave scandal.”
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., is slated to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award for his support of immigrants at the upcoming Keep Hope Alive Benefit hosted by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Human Dignity and Solidarity Immigration Ministry. The event, scheduled to take place on Nov. 3, will be hosted by Cardinal Blase Cupich.
Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, Durbin’s home diocese, condemned Cupich’s decision to honor Durbin in light of the lawmaker’s pro-abortion voting record.
In a statement to the Catholic publication The Pillar published Friday, Paprocki warned that “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 [Catholic] Church’s unequivocal teaching on the sanctity of human life.”
