by Steven Ertelt

A prominent Catholic cardinal is under fire again for yet another decision to honor a radical abortion activist.

Cardinal Blase Cupich faced massive criticism last year for his decision to honor pro-abortion Senator Dick Durbin and, this year, he's facing calls to rescind an honor to a leftist billionaire who donates to the Planned Parenthood abortion business.

Cupich and the rector of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake plan to present the Archdiocese of Chicago's Nostra Aetate Award to billionaire businessman and Democrat donor Michael Sacks at an October 29 fundraiser for the formation of future priests, drawing criticism from pro-life advocates who cite Sacks' support for America's biggest abortion business.

Illinois Right to Life has called on Cupich and seminary rector Fr. John Kartje to withdraw the honor, scheduled for the annual Seminary Salutes Rerum Novarum event. The group pointed to foundation records showing $500,000 from the Sacks Family Foundation to Planned Parenthood of Illinois between 2020 and 2022, plus a September 2026 Crain's Chicago Business report identifying an additional $600,000 contribution by Sacks toward an abortion initiative that benefited organizations including Planned Parenthood of Illinois and the Chicago Abortion Fund.

Those donations allow the pro-abortion groups to kill babies in abortions and facilitate abortions on women from other states that result in killing their unborn children.

"The Archdiocese of Chicago cannot credibly proclaim the sanctity of human life while publicly honoring a man whose wealth has helped support abortion providers and organizations working to expand abortion in Chicago," said Mary Kate Zander, president of Illinois Right to Life. "Michael Sacks helped recruit J.B. Pritzker, whose administration has made abortion and LGBTQ issues defining priorities and whose ambitions to forward those causes at the federal level are apparent. Now Cardinal Cupich intends to honor Sacks at an event dedicated to forming future Catholic priests. Catholics deserve an explanation for that decision."

Together, the contributions total approximately $1.1 million in documented and reported support for pro-abortion causes since 2020, according to the group.

Sacks, chairman and CEO of GCM Grosvenor, has also publicly pledged continued support for Personal PAC, an Illinois organization that works to elect candidates who support abortion.

An October 2026 investigation by the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ reported that Sacks helped recruit abortion activist J.B. Pritzker to run for governor of Illinois.

Pritzker has since signed legislation legalizing abortions up to birth and forcing state residents to fund abortions with their tax dollars. The same investigation reported that Michael and Cari Sacks contributed approximately $9.2 million to Illinois Democratic candidates and causes this election cycle, including nearly $1.2 million distributed among 28 left-leaning candidates for state office and $1.25 million to Common Ground Collective IEC. Cari Sacks gave $50,000 to Personal PAC. Most Democrat candidates support abortion on demand.

The planned award comes less than a year after Cardinal Cupich faced widespread criticism for intending to present a Lifetime Achievement Award to U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, a longtime supporter of abortion, at a different archdiocesan fundraiser.

Multiple bishops, including Springfield Bishop Thomas Paprocki, publicly objected, describing the honor as a source of scandal given Durbin's voting record against pro-life legislation. Durbin ultimately declined the award due to the controversy.

Sacks traveled to Rome in 2016 with Emanuel's delegation during the ceremonies surrounding Cupich's elevation to the College of Cardinals and attended a private dinner hosted by the mayor that Cupich also attended. Illinois Right to Life also noted publicly documented contact between Cupich and Pritzker, including communications published by the Chicago Sun-Times in 2022.

Zander said the controversy raises questions under the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' 2004 statement "Catholics in Political Life," which says Catholic institutions should not give awards, honors or platforms that would suggest support for actions contrary to fundamental moral principles, the group said.

The Archdiocese of Chicago and University of Saint Mary of the Lake have not publicly responded to the call to withdraw the award as of Oct. 26. The event is set for Thursday at IBEW Local 134 in Chicago.