Cardinal Blase Cupich spoke at a Chicago event where Senator Dick Durbin had been set to receive a lifetime achievement award for his work on immigration. Durbin declined the award after controversy, but Cupich defended the original decision to honor him. He said he had hoped it would encourage Catholics to see the full span of Church teaching—linking defense of immigrants with defense of the unborn and the vulnerable at the end of life. Cupich emphasized that the Catholic Church is not “one-issue” and argued that recognizing good work can open dialogue better than condemnation. He said his goal was to promote discussion and collaboration for the common good, and he warned against treating people as moral threats, which he believes discourages engagement.