Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the New York Archbishop considered among the most influential Christians in the U.S., urged Orange County Catholics to follow the Church’s teachings on business and economics by prioritizing the wellbeing of others and working to help the poor. 

“Outreach to the poor is not just a tax write off, it’s a sacred duty,” Cardinal Dolan said during the keynote address of the conference at the Hotel Irvine. “Once wealth is locked up, it becomes evil.” 

The cardinal’s comments came during the 2018 Orange Catholic Foundation Conference on Business Ethics, an annual event held in May drawing business, religious, academic and philanthropic leaders from across Southern California. The conference raises funds to support financial assistance for students in the Diocese of Orange who desire, but otherwise cannot afford, a Catholic education. About 80 percent of the event’s proceeds are granted the following school year and 20 percent invested in the foundation’s Tuition Assistance Endowment. 

“Year-over-year, the conference has raised more money in support of tuition assistance for our Catholic elementary school children,” said Hank Evers, director of Communications and Development for the Orange Catholic Foundation. “Never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit or the generosity of our donors.” 

Cardinal Dolan, who toured Christ Cathedral the day before the conference with Most Rev. Bishop Vann, Bishop of Orange, called supporting Catholic schools “an extraordinarily noble cause.” The cardinal urged conference attendees to make a difference through their work and economic prosperity. 

“Money is morally neutral – it’s neither good nor bad,” he said. “Its morality comes from the way we use it.” 

Full story at OC Catholic.