Socially Responsible Investment Principles
Invested assets of the Foundation are to be invested in accordance with the SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT GUIDELINES FOR THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS. In making investment decisions, we are aware of the mission of the Catholic Church. We believe we have the responsibility to influence corporate policy and public conscience to create a more just global society, foster the common good, and respect the dignity of life. The following principles will serve as guidelines for investments:
- PROTECTING HUMAN LIFE: The fundamental human right, the presupposition of every other right, is the right to life itself. This is true of life from the moment of conception until its natural end. Areas addressed by this guideline include abortion; euthanasia; assisted suicide; in-vitro fertilization; embryonic stem cell and fetal tissue research; human cloning; and access to drugs and vaccines.
- PROMOTING HUMAN DIGNITY: Society as a whole, acting through public and private institutions, has the moral responsibility to enhance human dignity and protect human rights. Areas addressed by this guideline include contraceptives; human rights; discrimination; pornography and commercial sexual exploitation; human trafficking and forced labor; and the human person.
- ENHANCE THE COMMON GOOD: The obligation to “love our neighbor” has an individual dimension, but it also requires a broader social commitment to the common good. Areas covered by this guideline include reducing arms production; and addictive materials or harmful habitual behaviors.
- PURSUING ECONOMIC JUSTICE: All economic institutions must support the bonds of community and solidarity that are essential to the dignity of persons. Wherever our economic arrangements fail to conform to the demands of human dignity lived in community, they must be questioned and transformed. Areas covered by this guideline include social, environmental, and financial responsibility; labor standards; affordable housing and banking; and impact investing.
- SAVING OUR GLOBAL COMMON HOME: The book of nature is one and indivisible: it takes in not only the environment but also life, sexuality, marriage, the family, social relations: in a word, integral human development. Our duties towards the environment are linked to our duties towards the human person. Areas covered by this guideline include climate change; biodiversity; water and natural resources; and environmental impact.
With regard to morally and socially responsible investing, the Foundation characterizes the investment management of its portfolio as a process of avoidance; excluding securities whose companies violate the principles and teachings of the Catholic Church. A list of restricted companies will be provided to the fund managers on a quarterly basis. This list is approved by the Michigan Catholic Conference Board of Directors following input received from its subcommittee charged with maintaining a list of restricted companies.
