CNA Staff, Oct 1, 2025 / 15:35 pm

Various U.S. bishops expressed relief and happiness after U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, announced his decision to decline an award from the Chicago Archdiocese following backlash over his pro-abortion views.

Late Tuesday, Chicago Archbishop Cardinal Blase Cupich said Durbin had decided to back away from receiving the award after numerous U.S. bishops criticized the archdiocese for selecting Durbin to receive the honor.

The Illinois senator was scheduled to receive a “Lifetime Achievement Award for support to immigrants” at an archdiocesan event in November. Cupich described the senator as embodying “unwavering support of immigrants, which is so needed in our day.”

Springfield, Illinois, Bishop Thomas Paprocki, who presides over Durbin’s home dio

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