[Catholic Caucus] Lay Leader Who Criticized Cardinal Cupich Phased Out of Catholic Conference Board

National Catholic Register ^ | March 17, 2026 | Jonathan Liedl

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[Catholic Caucus] Lay Leader Who Criticized Cardinal Cupich Phased Out of Catholic Conference Board

Loyola University Chicago law professor John Breen will leave after nearly 13 years; sources say the move follows his public criticism of plans to honor Sen. Dick Durbin.

Nearly six months after publicly criticizing Cardinal Blase Cupich’s plan to give a “lifetime achievement” award to a pro-abortion-rights senator, a long-serving lay member of the Catholic Conference of Illinois (CCI) board of directors is being involuntarily phased out of his role. 

John Breen, a Loyola University Chicago law professor who has served on CCI’s board since 2012, will be off the board after the group’s upcoming March 20 meeting, the Register has learned. An informed source confirmed to the Register that the move is linked to Breen’s September 2025 criticism of the Chicago cardinal’s intention to honor Sen. Dick Durbin at an archdiocesan gala.

When reached by the Register and asked if leaving the board was his decision, Breen said “No” and provided no further comment.

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TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: abortion; blasecupich; chicago; cupcakecupich; dickdurbin; dictatorcardinal; frankencardial; illinois; johnbreen; loyolauniversity; romancatholicism

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Ten of Cardinal Cupich’s fellow bishops also publicly criticized the decision to fête Durbin, including Bishop Paprocki, who had previously barred the pro-abortion-rights senator from receiving Holy Communion in his diocese. Durbin eventually declined the award shortly after Pope Leo XIV weighed in on the controversy.

Unfortunately, Pope Leo sided with Cupich and Durbin:

Pope Leo speaks up on Dick Durbin’s behalf amid abortion rift

“It’s important to look at the overall work that a senator has done,” the pontiff said amid an uproar over a church honor for the Illinois Democrat.

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Seamless garment Barf Alert

[If You Want It Fixed - Fix It]

Who cares.....Jesus is watching.

Good on the man for objecting. Jesus is watching. Let them hang themselves. Honor Jesus, let the dead bury the dead, or reward them with accolades that do not impress after death...nor before.