(LifeSiteNews) — The list of U.S. bishops publicly opposing Cardinal Blasé Cupich’s decision to present an award to pro-abortion U.S. Senator Dick Durbin continues to grow.

Since Thursday morning, two additional clergy have issued statements calling on Cupich to not honor Durbin, who has supported partial-birth abortion and every possible other form of abortion during his 28 years in the Senate, with a lifetime achievement award at the upcoming “Keep Hope Alive” benefit on November 3.

“At every Mass we ask the Lord Jesus for the gifts of peace and unity in his Church,” Fort Worth Bishop Michael Olson said in a two-part X post Thursday morning. “And at this time of strife and division, Cardinal Cupich could promote peace and unity by withdrawing the invitation to Senator Durbin to receive an award and instead use the event to highlight the many ways in which human life and dignity are defended and promoted in the Archdiocese of Chicago and elsewhere.”

At every Mass we ask the Lord Jesus for the gifts of peace and unity in his Church, and at this time of strife and division, Cardinal Cupich could promote peace and unity by withdrawing the invitation to Senator Durbin to receive an award and instead use the event to highlight –

— Bishop Michael Olson (@BpOlsonFW) September 25, 2025

the many ways in which human life and dignity are defended and promoted in the Archdiocese of Chicago and elsewhere. @FWdiocese @NTCatholic @TXCatholic @usccbprolife @USCCBJFI @USCCB

— Bishop Michael Olson (@BpOlsonFW) September 25, 2025

Wichita Bishop Carl A. Kemme, D.D. also issued a statement Thursday.

“As a former priest of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, I support Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, in his objection to awarding Senator Richard Durbin, who is from Springfield, a lifetime achievement honor,” Kemme said in a press release. “It is my opinion that his long-held views and consistent votes promoting abortion clearly disqualify him for this award by the Archdiocese of Chicago. As a brother bishop, I urge Cardinal Cupich to withdraw this honor, which will ultimately cause scandal and confusion among the faithful.”

Since his election to the U.S. Senate in 1997, Durbin has voted against the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, and the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. He also supported legislation aimed at codifying and expanding Roe v. Wade despite the Supreme Court’s ruling that it was unconstitutional. Durbin’s voting record has earned him 0 percent pro-life scores and 100 percent pro-abortion scores from the National Right to Life Committee, NARAL, and Planned Parenthood during the vast majority of his time in the Senate

In 2004, Durbin – a self-identifying Catholic – was prohibited from receiving Holy Communion in his home diocese of Springfield, Illinois. He has since relocated to Chicago, according to Paprocki, who was on Raymond Arroyo’s program on EWTN last night.

Despite increasing blowback, Cupich has doubled down on his decision to honor Durbin, stating on September 22 that “Catholic teaching on life and dignity cannot be reduced to a single issue, even an issue as important as abortion.” Cupich cited “contributions” from Durbin “to advance Catholic social teaching in the areas of immigration, the care of the poor, Laudato Si’, and world peace” to justify his decision.

But Cupich was corrected by Bishop David Ricken of the Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin, who pointed out in an X post that “Works of justice & protecting life are not mutually exclusive but must be inclusive. Abortion violates ‘Thou shalt not kill’ (Ex 20:13). I join @BishopPaprocki & @ArchCordileone in urging @CardinalBCupich to retract this award.”

As of Friday morning, September 26, seven bishops have called on Cupich to cancel the award: Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, Bishop James Wall of Gallup, New Mexico, Bishop James Conley of Lincoln, Nebraska, Bishop Emeritus Joseph Strickland, and Bishops Olson and Ricken.

Social media users have drawn attention to the atypical nature of multiple bishops speaking out against Cupich.

“These disagreements are usually not aired publicly,” Fr. Peter Totleben, O.P. remarked on X. “Everyone feels comfortable calling Cardinal Cupich out, which shows you where the momentum is among the U.S. bishops, and that a page has been turned in Rome, because Cupich is no longer the Pope’s guy in America.”

Durbin, 80, currently serves as the Senate Democratic Whip, the second highest position in the party.