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flag Chicago archbishop’s honor of pro-abortion-rights Sen. Dick Durbin sparks church debate over doctrine and politics.

flag Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich’s plan to honor Senator Dick Durbin, a Catholic Democrat who supports abortion rights, at an immigration fundraiser has sparked debate within the U.S. Catholic Church. flag Cupich defended the decision, citing Durbin’s decades-long advocacy for immigrants and a 2021 Vatican directive encouraging dialogue with Catholic politicians, emphasizing that Catholic teaching must consider a person’s full record. flag Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield and other bishops criticized the honor, calling it a scandal that undermines the Church’s stance on the sanctity of life and conflicting with local policies. flag The controversy reflects long-standing tensions between church leaders and Catholic politicians on abortion, with some bishops barring such figures from Communion, though the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has not mandated such actions. flag A 2022 poll found most lay Catholics oppose denying Communion to pro-abortion rights politicians, highlighting a divide between clergy and the faithful on how to balance doctrine with political realities.

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