Chicago’s Catholic archdiocese is at the center of a heated debate after Cardinal Blase Cupich announced that billionaire Michael Sacks will be recognized at the Oct. 29 Rerum Novarum Awards Dinner, a fundraiser for Mundelein Seminary. The award, traditionally meant to celebrate service to the community, has drawn sharp criticism from pro‑life advocates who say honoring a known pro‑abortion donor undermines the Church’s longstanding defense of the unborn child.
Background on the award and the donor
The Rerum Novarum Awards Dinner supports the education of future priests. This year, the archdiocese added the Nostra Aetate Award, a distinction meant to acknowledge leaders from non‑Christian faiths for their contributions to society. Cardinal Cupich said the award “affirms the value the Church places on inter‑religious relationships.” Michael Sacks, a prominent figure in Chicago’s Jewish community, was selected as the inaugural recipient.
Sacks, president and treasurer of the Sacks Family Foundation, has contributed significant sums to organizations that provide abortion services. Between 2020 and 2022, the foundation granted roughly $500,000 to Planned Parenthood of Illinois. In September, Crain’s Chicago Business reported that Sacks and his wife, Cari, donated $600,000 to the Prairie State Access Fund, an initiative created with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration to expand abortion access in the state. Sacks also serves on the board of the Obama Foundation.
Critics within the Catholic community speak out
Several Catholic voices have publicly condemned the decision. Carl E. Olson, editor of the Catholic World Report, called the move “a pro‑abortion billionaire receiving a prominent award from the Archdiocese of Chicago.” Olson warned that using the Nostra Aetate rationale to justify the honor could echo historic patterns of exclusion and bigotry, even suggesting the argument borders on antisemitism.
Christine Niles, a Catholic investigative reporter, cited a U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) statement that “Catholics in Political Life” should not honor individuals who act in defiance of fundamental moral principles. Kelsey Reinhardt, president and CEO of CatholicVote, echoed the bishops’ teaching, urging the cardinal to reconsider the award and reminding readers that “the pre‑born babies and the faithful who support them cry out once again.”
Cardinal Cupich’s defense
In response, Cardinal Cupich issued a statement emphasizing the Nostra Aetate declaration’s call for dialogue with those of different faiths and viewpoints. He argued that recognizing Sacks for his leadership and community service does not constitute an endorsement of all his positions, but rather fosters mutual respect and opens channels for constructive conversation.
“The award is designed to honor members of non‑Christian communities for their leadership in their own and the wider community,” Cupich wrote. “It is not a statement of agreement on every moral or political issue.”
Local reaction and next steps
The controversy has quickly become a focal point for Chicago’s Catholic faithful, many of whom feel the archdiocese is compromising core teachings on the sanctity of life. Parishioners and pro‑life organizations have called for a reversal of the decision, while some interfaith leaders have expressed concern that the award could be perceived as politicizing a religious ceremony.
As the Oct. 29 dinner approaches, the archdiocese has not indicated any change to the program. The media relations office stated it has “nothing to add” to the cardinal’s earlier remarks. Sacks’ spokesperson confirmed that the donor is honored to receive the award and believes the cardinal’s statement “speaks for itself.”
What this means for the local faith community
For Chicago’s Catholic community, the episode underscores ongoing tensions between religious doctrine and public engagement with donors whose political activities clash with Church teachings. It also highlights the broader challenge of balancing inter‑religious outreach with adherence to core moral principles, a debate that will likely continue as the archdiocese navigates future fundraising efforts.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
