Chicago Archbishop to honor abortion-funding donor at seminary gala

Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago, is set to present the inaugural Nostra Aetate award to billionaire businessman Michael J. Sacks during the annual Rerum Novarum gala. The event, held at the IBEW Local 134 union facilities, aims to raise funds for the formation of future priests at Mundelein Seminary.

The decision to honor Sacks has drawn criticism from pro-life groups due to his financial support for reproductive health services. Public records and reports indicate that Sacks and his foundation have donated significant sums to organizations facilitating abortion access in Illinois, including $500,000 to Planned Parenthood of Illinois between 2020 and 2022, and $600,000 to the Prairie State Access Fund.

Sacks, the president and CEO of GCM Grosvenor, is a prominent figure in the financial sector with close ties to the Democratic Party. The Prairie State Access Fund was established to strengthen abortion access infrastructure in Illinois and offset federal funding cuts to reproductive health services.