Ecological Economics

The sharing of ourselves and our resources,
which is integral to the vow of poverty,
is central to our mission as peacemakers.
We try to make our own
the concerns of the human family
and work to bring about the well-being of others,
especially those who are poor and oppressed.

— Constitution 55

Material resources are administered
according to the criteria of justice
and in ways which witness to interdependence and collaboration
in our efforts toward peace.

— Constitution 109

Responsible Investing, Charitable Giving, and Impact Investing

As our investment policy states, our investment goals “must be achieved within a spirit of peace and justice.” We have fully divested from nuclear weapons and fossil fuels. We screen out other investments not in keeping with Catholic Social Teaching. Since 1976, we have used our investments and rights as shareholders to advocate for corporate practices which promote the common good.

At our twenty-second Congregation Chapter in 2014, we established a pilot project to use our resources for mission through impact investing and charitable giving. This experience led the twenty-third Congregation Chapter in 2021 to direct the incoming Leadership Team to integrate these approaches into our overall financial strategy.

In addition, as part of our 2021 Congregation Commitment to the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, we have embraced the vision of Pope Francis to practice “ecological economics,” the third Laudato Si’ goal. Ecological economics acknowledges that the economy is a sub-system of human society, which itself is embedded within the biosphere — our common home.

Read More:

Sharing our Resources: 2024 Impact Report (November 2024)

Living Peace Articles by our Chief Financial Officer

Priority Areas

In our shareholder advocacy, charitable giving, and impact investing we support projects and organizations in five priority areas, informed by recent Chapter directions:

1. Peace through justice: explicit nonviolence, systemic change, violence prevention, violence interruption, and reconciliation-based peace initiatives.

2. Care for Creation: creative and adaptive efforts toward environmental justice and the acknowledgement and repair of ecological wounds.

3. Empowerment of low income, marginalized persons, especially women: community organizing and cooperatives that help persons develop skills and increase income.

4. Radical hospitality: welcome of immigrants and refugees, anti-racism, inclusion, and interculturality.

5. Religious life: global sisterhood, care of elder members, and newer communities in active ministry with people on the margins of society.