Religion and politics mixing is taboo in America. But the old mores are crumbling.
And now Catholic Bishops are joining forces to punch back at a Democrat U.S. Senator.
Bishops Unite Against Cardinal Cupich’s Award to Sen. Durbin
A growing chorus of Catholic bishops—now seven strong—has publicly challenged Cardinal Blase Cupich’s decision to honor Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) with a lifetime achievement award from the Archdiocese of Chicago, citing the senator’s steadfast support for abortion rights as a grave contradiction to the Church’s teachings.
The latest to voice dissent, Bishops Carl Kemme of Wichita, Kansas, and Michael Olson of Fort Worth, Texas, joined the fray on September 25, amplifying concerns that the November 3 award ceremony risks sowing scandal and undermining the Church’s pro-life witness.
For conservatives, this controversy exposes a troubling disconnect in prioritizing political accolades over moral clarity, threatening the integrity of Catholic values in public life.
A Pro-Life Stand Rooted in Principle
The backlash began with Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois—Durbin’s home diocese—on September 19, who barred the senator from receiving Holy Communion in 2004 due to his consistent votes to expand abortion access.
Paprocki was followed by Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone (San Francisco), Bishop James Conley (Lincoln, Nebraska), Bishop James Wall (Gallup, New Mexico), Bishop David Ricken (Green Bay, Wisconsin), and now Kemme and Olson.
Kemme, a former Springfield priest, stood firmly with Paprocki: “It is my opinion that [Durbin’s] long held views and consistent votes promoting abortion clearly disqualify him for this award by the Archdiocese of Chicago.” He urged Cupich to reconsider, warning of “scandal and confusion among the faithful.”
Olson, via X, echoed this, calling for Cupich to promote “peace and unity” by withdrawing the award and instead spotlighting efforts to defend human life and dignity. To conservatives, these bishops are courageously upholding the Church’s non-negotiable stance on the sanctity of life against a culture increasingly numb to it.
Cupich’s Defense Falls Flat
Cardinal Cupich, unmoved since his September 22 statement, justified the award by citing Durbin’s work on immigration, poverty, environmental issues, and peacebuilding, arguing that “Catholic teaching on life and dignity cannot be reduced to a single issue, even an issue as important as abortion.”
But conservatives see this as a dodge, prioritizing political expediency over the Church’s clear moral hierarchy, where abortion—the deliberate ending of innocent life—stands paramount.
Durbin’s decades-long record, including votes for late-term abortion and funding Planned Parenthood, clashes starkly with the Church’s call to protect the unborn, making the award not just tone-deaf but a betrayal of Catholic witness. The silence from Cupich since the bishops’ objections only fuels the perception of a Church leadership out of touch with its flock’s moral expectations.
A Call for Clarity in a Divided Time
For conservative Catholics, this isn’t just about one award—it’s about the Church’s role as a beacon of truth in a world where moral lines blur. The bishops’ unified front signals a demand for accountability, ensuring Catholic honors reflect Catholic values, not political alliances. As Olson noted, the Archdiocese could use this moment to celebrate true defenders of life, not those who’ve worked to dismantle it. With the faithful watching, Cupich’s decision to proceed risks alienating those who see the Church as America’s last stand against a culture of death.
The Chloe Cole Act’s recent push to protect minors from irreversible medical procedures shows conservatives are rallying for life at every stage—born and unborn. These bishops aren’t just dissenting; they’re calling for a Church that leads with conviction, not compromise.
