Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago is facing escalating pressure from Catholic bishops and pro-life groups over his decision to present a "Lifetime Achievement Award" to U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, a lawmaker with a long record supporting abortion access.

The planned ceremony is prompting accusations of undermining Catholic teaching and has fueled protests and petitions from Catholic leaders and advocacy groups nationwide, as Fox News reports.

The award is scheduled to be given on November 3, 2025, during the "Keep Hope Alive Benefit 2025" hosted by the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Human Dignity and Solidarity Immigration Ministry. The event will take place at St. Ignatius College Prep in the city, with the senator being recognized specifically for his legislative support of immigrants and immigration reform.

National criticism over abortion voting record

The most prominent criticism surrounds Durbin’s legislative history on abortion, including opposition to bills aimed at securing protections for infants who survive attempted abortions. The Catholic Church has consistently taught that abortion is gravely immoral, and this teaching is considered unchanged and unchangeable.

Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Ill., where Sen. Durbin resides, said the decision could cause a "grave scandal" due to the senator’s “long and consistent record of supporting legal abortion.” He argued that the move risks suggesting to the public a departure from well-documented Catholic positions on life issues.

Echoing that concern, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco took to social media, expressing worry over the impact the honor could have on Church unity and doctrinal clarity. He said that Paprocki was right to speak out and emphasized the seriousness of honoring a figure who opposes protections for babies who survive attempted abortions.

Nationwide protest and digital petition efforts grow

In response, CatholicVote launched a digital petition urging Cardinal Cupich to revoke the award. As of Monday, more than 20,000 signatures had been collected, according to the organization. The group also plans to join a peaceful protest organized by March for Life Illinois outside of the November 3 event.

Kelsey Reinhardt, the president and CEO of CatholicVote, expressed dismay over the archdiocese’s plans. She said the honor "shocks the Catholic conscience," given the Church’s long-standing position against abortion and decades of pro-life advocacy by Catholic institutions and believers.

"We join the now nine U.S. bishops who have, in a spirit of fraternal correction, encouraged Cardinal Cupich to change his mind," Reinhardt said. She noted that CatholicVote’s action center will remain active until the award is called off.

Additional bishops speak out in opposition

Bishop James D. Conley of Lincoln, Nebraska, also expressed alarm, stating he was “shocked and bewildered” by the decision to recognize Durbin in this way. He cited the senator’s consistent history of supporting abortion legislation as incompatible with Catholic moral teachings.

Bishop James S. Wall of Gallup, New Mexico; Bishop Michael F. Olson of Fort Worth, Texas; Bishop Carl A. Kemme of Wichita, Kansas; Bishop James V. Johnston of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri, and retired Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, also voiced their objections publicly.

Each bishop emphasized that their concerns stem not from political partisanship but from Church moral doctrine, particularly regarding the sanctity of life and the risks of confusing the faithful about the Church's position on abortion.

Root of the controversy: abortion and recognition

The growing rift illustrates tensions within segments of the Church hierarchy over how to handle Catholic public figures who oppose Church teachings on abortion. While some leaders advocate engagement and recognition for work supporting areas like immigration, others stress that public witness on life issues cannot be compromised.

The Catholic Church teaches that “direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law.” This statement reflects centuries of Church doctrine and remains a central pillar of Catholic ethical teaching today.

Despite the mounting backlash, there has been no public indication from Cupich's office that the award presentation will be reconsidered, and the event appears set to go on as scheduled.

Award date approaches as debate intensifies

With less than a month left before the November 3 event, organizers of the protest are preparing to demonstrate outside the venue while continuing to urge Catholics nationwide to contact the archdiocese through the CatholicVote Action Center.

Supporters of the protest argue that honoring a high-profile legislator whose advocacy for abortion rights has been well documented could erode the Church’s ability to speak credibly on moral issues, especially the defense of unborn children.

While the Archdiocese of Chicago has focused its rationale for the honor on Durbin’s immigration efforts, critics maintain that the senator’s record on abortion makes any formal recognition by the Church concerning and inappropriate from a moral standpoint.