Catholic Institutions Should Not Honor Baby-Killers. Do you agree?

Recently, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago offered pro-abortion Senator Dick Durbin an award from the Chicago Archdiocesan Office of Human Dignity and Solidarity, citing his work for immigrants. A number of bishops, cited below, spoke up in opposition to this, as did many of the faithful, noting that, as the US bishops said many years ago, a wrong position on abortion “renders suspect” the rightness of positions on other issues. Moreover, the US bishops’ conference has already expressed the view that we should not honor those who support the killing of babies.

Senator Durbin has declined the award, but Cardinal Cupich has not admitted he was wrong to offer it in the first place.

By signing below, you indicate that you agree that it is entirely inappropriate for Catholic institutions to honor pro-abortion public officials.

Bishop Paprocki said:

“I was shocked to learn that the Archdiocese of Chicago plans to honor Senator Richard Durbin with a Lifetime Achievement Award through its Office of Human Dignity and Solidarity Immigration. 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.“Honoring a public figure who has actively worked to expand and entrench the right to end innocent human life in the womb undermines the very concept of human dignity and solidarity that the award purports to uphold.”

“Senator Durbin, who has been barred from receiving Holy Communion in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois since 2004 for his public support of abortion, should not be celebrated by the Church. This decision not only contradicts the Church’s moral doctrine but also sows confusion about the seriousness of abortion and the integrity of Catholic witness in public life. I urge Cardinal Cupich to reconsider this action for the sake of clarity, unity, and fidelity to the Gospel of Life.”

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone said:

“I stand 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. 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.”

 

 

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Comments:

In 2004, the U.S. Conference of Catholics Bishops included in its statement Catholics in Political Life:

“The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.”

Many more Bishops have made statements: Read them all here.