The Cardinal's poorly worded defense centered on two principles: first, that the Senator's residence has changed.
However, as Bishop Paprocki has clarified and a records search revealed, Senator Durbin's primary residence remains Springfield. Since 2004, Senator Durbin has been barred from receiving Holy Communion in the Diocese of Springfield. Bishop Thomas Paprocki, his bishop, has confirmed that the prohibition remains in effect. Bishop Paprocki has asked his brother bishop, Cardinal Cupich, to rescind the Archdiocese of Chicago's plans to give the award to Senator Durbin.
Bishop Paprocki's request to Cardinal Cupich has so far been echoed by Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco; Bishop James Conley of Lincoln, Nebraska; Bishop James Wall of the Diocese of Gallup in Arizona and New Mexico; Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay, Wisconsin; Bishop Carl Alan Kemme of Wichita, Kansas; and Bishop Joseph Strickland, formerly of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas.
The attention this matter is getting from Cardinal Cupich's fellow bishops indicates how important this issue is to the Church on a national level. All eyes are on Chicago. If a man with Senator Durbin's record is honored there, what message does that send to the faithful nationwide?
His response to this criticism constitutes his second defense. Cardinal Cupich has justified his plans to honor Durbin, saying, "At the heart of the consistent ethic of life is the recognition that Catholic teaching on life and dignity cannot be reduced to a single issue, even an issue as important as abortion."
While it is true that Catholic teaching upholds the dignity of life in every circumstance, St. John Paul II warned against diluting the singular evil of abortion. In Evangelium Vitae, he teaches that "procured abortion… this moral gravity cannot be compared to any other crime against human life." To pretend otherwise is not a "consistent ethic," but a distortion that risks excusing cooperation with grave injustice.
Cardinal Cupich is also acting in direct contradiction of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' document on abortion, Catholics in Political Life, which says:
"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."
Similar instructions are found in the Archdiocese of Chicago's own policy handbook (Book One, §2201).
Also unsettling is that Cardinal Cupich will present this award to Senator Durbin on behalf of the Archdiocese of Chicago's Office of Human Dignity and Solidarity. There is no greater affront to human dignity and solidarity than abortion.
And so, we ask you to join us in protesting this award. Right to Life of Illinois plans to peacefully protest the November 3 event and our own Josh Mercer—co-founder and vice president of CatholicVote—will be among the speakers. You can join them by signing up here.
We hope that protest will not be necessary. But this is our Mother Angelica moment. With your help, we may yet convince Cardinal Cupich to change course.
Please go to the CatholicVote Action Center where you can send a message directly to Cardinal Cupich's office, urging him not to give this award to Senator Durbin.
And if the Cardinal does not change his position we, the baptized, will have fulfilled our Catholic duty to defend the sanctity of life.
Make your stand for your faith and the sanctity of life TODAY. And after you sign, forward this message to anyone willing to make their own.
Go forward bravely,
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