The Ave Maria Mutual Funds may hope to get a reflected glow from Lawrence Kudlow. The Catholic values-focused fund firm has tapped the economist and columnist best known as the host of CNBC's Kudlow & Company television show for its advisory board.

Kudlow is a convert to Catholicism, according to Bowie Kuhn, chairman of the Catholic Advisory Board that sets the investment criteria for the Ave Maria Mutual Funds. That, and Kudlow's background in politics and economist (he was an economic advisor to the Bush-Cheney transition team) allow him to provide a unique perspective to the fund's board, explained Kuhn.

Kuhn's name may also sound familiar if you are a baseball fan. He is a former commissioner of Major League Baseball. Other prominent board members include Domino's founder Tom Monaghan, author Phyllis Schlafly and Detroit Archbishop Cardinal Maida.

Schwartz Investment Counsel serves as the investment advisor to the four Ave Maria Mutual Funds that now hold $350 million of assets and claim 10,000 shareholders. The funds screen for companies that have ties to abortion, pornography or those that undermine the Sacrament of marriage are excluded.  

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