News Archives » corporate social responsibility
Fr. Seamus Finn Explains Faith-Consistent Investing on Local Radio Station July 3rd, 2011
Pictured from left to right: Mr. Warren E Powell, Host-“Let’s Get It On”; Mr. Thomas Kent, Director Vietnam Veterans of America -DC Chp.958; Mr. Gale Thames-Co-Host, “Let’s Get It On”; Rev. Seamus Finn, Director OMI JPIC Ministry Missionary Oblates; Mr. James M. McGee, Pres. NAPFE; Mr. Leonard Pitts, USO Advocate; Mr. Selvon Waldron, LGIO reporter. Seated Mr. Paul Tennassee, LGIO GloLocal Specialist. Mr. Leonard Pitts completed a walking trek, over 500 miles, from Clinton, SC to Washington, DC in support of the USO. Rev. Seamus Finn, was a guest speaking on Corporate Responsibility.
Seamus Finn, OMI appeared on Thursday evening on the National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees (NAPFE) public interest radio program “Let’s Get It On” hosted by Warren Powell and Gale Thames. Fr. Seamus spoke about the work of faith-based investors in promoting corporate social responsibility.
You can listen to the program by going to the NAPFE website and click on the button “Click here to listen now”. The program segment that features the Fr. Seamus starts at minute 11 and runs for about ten minutes.
This program features information on Postal, Federal Employees, and Veterans. Subjects are Health tips, Labor Relations, Global Affairs, Latest Developments, and any others topics of interest. Each week there are special guests and informational professionals.
ICCR releases Social Sustainability Resource Guide June 28th, 2011
The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) has issued a new publication offering suggestions to companies on how to achieve and measure greater social sustainability. The guide suggests ways to integrate different stakeholders into a constructive consultative process. The resource guide is also helpful for investors to develop collaboration skills in their shareholder engagements.
“While a number of companies have implemented sustainability initiatives, few measure the social impacts of their operations and programs in communities. In order to address this gap, ICCR is publishing this guide for implementing and measuring social sustainability programs.”
Learn more: Download the ICCR Social Sustainability Resource Guide.
Hard copies can be ordered from ICCR.
ICCR Celebrates 40th Anniversary! June 6th, 2011
The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), of which the Oblates are active members, has been engaging corporations on issues related to the common good for forty years.
Read about ICCR and some recent successful member initiatives.
Vatican Meeting Calls for Guidance on Environmental, Corporate Ethics May 18th, 2011
Catholics are looking for guidance and a larger voice from the Vatican on ethical principles for the world of finance and the environment, according to a number of participants attending a Vatican meeting on social justice in a globalized world.
Some 200 people involved in social justice issues for the church gathered May 16-18 for an international conference sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. The meeting celebrated the 50th anniversary of Blessed Pope John XXIII’s social encyclical, “Mater et Magistra.” It was designed to find ways to use the church’s social teaching, including Pope Benedict XVI’s 2009 social encyclical “Caritas in Veritate,” to bring greater justice to a globalized world.
The Oblates were represented by Fr. Seamus Finn, OMI, US JPIC Director. Fr. Seamus, a leader in the faith-responsible investment movement said, “Individual Catholics are looking for guidance” in how to connect their concern for corporate responsibility and the environment to their faith and Christian spirituality.
Christians cannot be motivated solely by utilitarian arguments that natural resources should be protected so that they will not run out or poison future generations, he said, adding that “Environmental and corporate ethics needs to be based on the Christian sense of stewardship, of care, respect and appreciation for God’s gifts.”
Read the Catholic News Service article…
Fr. Seamus Finn, OMI to Address Business Ethics Conference in Orange County, CA April 12th, 2011
Fr. Seamus Finn, OMI – Director of the Oblate JPIC Office and Board member of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility – will give the keynote address on corporate responsibility and socially responsible investing. He encourages people to integrate their beliefs — such as caring for the environment and paying workers a fair wage — into their investment and business decisions.
“You don’t have to sacrifice return on your investment or profit from your business by integrating either your beliefs or your values into that process,” Fr. Finn said.
He sees the issue moved to the front burner because of the string of problems in the Middle East.
“What it does for me is shine a spotlight on that part of the world and ask a question about whether or not the U.S. has been turning a blind eye to the plight of a lot of citizens in these countries and imported refugee labor because we need the oil,” he said.
But Fr. Finn, who has been pushing for social responsibility in business for more than two decades, said he sees reason for hope as more companies put the environment and people first with tags like organic and sweatshop-free.
“There’s a reason to be optimistic I think because the consumer — the person who’s out there buying a computer or a car or some piece of clothing — they’re asking more questions about where these things come from,” Finn said. “What I think is intriguing and encouraging is that it’s not as difficult to get answers to these questions as it was 20 years ago. You can take our your iPhone or Android and if you have a question, you can put it in there and someplace out there in this vast web of Internet connectivity you’re going to get some answers.”
