Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich is facing criticism for his decision to honor billionaire Democratic donor Michael Sacks, who has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to abortion-access organizations. The dispute comes just days before a fundraising gala benefiting the education of future Catholic priests.

Cupich is scheduled to recognize Chicago businessman Michael Sacks at the Rerum Novarum Awards Dinner benefiting Mundelein Seminary. Sacks will receive the Nostra Aetate Award, which recognizes members of non-Christian communities for their leadership and contributions to society.

Sacks’ financial support for abortion access has drawn criticism from Catholic leaders and pro-life advocates, who argue that the recognition conflicts with the Church’s teachings on the sanctity of life.

Between 2020 and 2022, the Sacks Family Foundation, where Sacks serves as president and treasurer, reportedly donated $500,000 to Planned Parenthood of Illinois. More recently, Sacks and his wife, Cari, contributed $600,000 to the Prairie State Access Fund, an initiative supporting abortion access in Illinois.

The donations have raised questions about why a prominent Catholic leader would honor someone whose charitable giving supports causes opposed to Church doctrine.

Cupich defended his decision in a Monday statement, emphasizing the importance of building relationships across religious and political differences.

“This year’s recipient is Mr. Michael Sacks, a well-respected leader in Chicago and in the Jewish community,” Cupich explained.

The cardinal said the award reflects the spirit of Nostra Aetate, a landmark declaration from the Second Vatican Council encouraging respect and dialogue between Catholics and people of other faiths.

Cupich maintained that recognizing someone’s community leadership does not mean endorsing every position they hold. He also warned that excluding Jewish leaders solely because of differing religious or political beliefs could risk repeating historical patterns of discrimination.

Critics, however, say the issue is not Sacks’ Jewish faith but his financial support for abortion.

Carl E. Olson, editor of Catholic World Reporon social media, asking, “Surely there are prominent pro-life Jewish leaders in the Chicago area?”

CatholicVote president and CEO Kelsey Reinhardt also urged Cupich to reconsider, pointing to longstanding guidance from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“The U.S. bishops have taught that Catholic institutions should not give ‘awards, honors or platforms’ to those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles,” Reinhardt said.

That guidance, outlined in the bishops’ 2004 statement Catholics in Political Life, warns against honors that could suggest institutional support for actions contrary to Catholic moral teachings.

The controversy echoes a similar dispute involving Cupich last year, when plans to honor Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin drew objections from Catholic bishops over his support for abortion rights. Durbin ultimately declined the award following the backlash.

Despite the criticism, Sacks appears willing to accept the recognition.

“Mr. Sacks is honored to receive the award and believes the Cardinal’s statement speaks for itself,” his spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

With the Oct. 29 dinner approaching, the dispute has raised a difficult question within the Catholic Church: Where should religious leaders draw the line between encouraging interfaith relationships and upholding the Church’s moral teachings?