CEO says Catholic social teaching informs his decisions

Published: 2004-06-14

MILWAUKEE (CNS) -- Donald Trump may want to trademark his "You're fired" expression, uttered while pointing his finger at a contestant on "The Apprentice" reality show, but one Catholic CEO thinks that phrase and glorification of it symbolize problems he sees in corporate America today. "Why would Donald Trump want to be known as the person who said, 'You're fired'?" asked Daniel Steininger, chairman of the board of Catholic Funds Inc. and president and CEO of Catholic Knights in Milwaukee. "How sad. And he (was) on the cover of Newsweek. That's how bad it's gotten." Catholic Funds is a financial services group that offers mutual funds that buy stock in companies that operate in a way that is consistent with Catholic values. The Catholic Knights is a fraternal organization. Steininger began leading the Catholic Knights in 1981 after working as a lawyer in Milwaukee for about eight years. As CEO of Catholic Funds, he uses Catholic social teaching to raise concerns about corporate America and to vote on shareholder resolutions. He recently has gained attention for bringing attention to the high salaries CEOs make.

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