Discriminating Investors Cannot Support Companies Engaged in Racial or Gender Discrimination
“Discrimination based on the accidental fact of race or color, and as such injurious to human rights regardless of personal qualities or achievements, cannot be reconciled with the truth that God has created all men with equal rights and equal dignity. Forms of social or cultural discrimination in basic personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, color, social conditions, language or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God’s design.” – USCCB Investing Guidelines
In the beginning, God created man and woman equal in dignity. Over the course of human history, we have often forgotten that we are all God’s children, alike in dignity. At times, treating others differently based on accidental characteristics has become so ingrained in society it can be difficult to acknowledge. Other times, it is practiced openly for financial gain or other reasons.
Catholics must not invest in companies that discriminate based on race or gender.
Schedule Free Consultation Today
From simply paying certain individuals less than others to active mistreatment, discrimination can take many forms. Finding out what publicly traded companies engage in such behavior is difficult, if not impossible, for the average investor. Most businesses are very adept at hiding activities from the public that could prove detrimental to their share prices.
Socially Responsible Financial Advisors Avoid Discrimination and Challenge the Status Quo
Summit maintains close ties with watchdog organizations in the socially responsible investing community. When a corporation starts discriminating in a morally evil way, we are quick to find out and pull investments from this company.
A major benefit of investing with Summit’s separately managed accounts is the ease with which our Catholic financial advisors can change the make up of your portfolio.
By removing Catholic investments in these companies, we are effectively voting with our dollars. The repercussions of sudden and significant reputational damage is often enough to keep businesses in line with moral truth. In addition to starving discriminatory companies of funds, Summit also dialogues with them to get them to change their practices for the better. Jesus calls all Catholics to be a light to the world. Summit answers this charge by advocating for the abolition of race and gender based discrimination among businesses.