News Archives » interfaith center on corporate responsibility
Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI Gives Lecture on the “Ethics of Finance” at Stanford University October 30th, 2024
By. Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI, Director, JPIC & Chief Faith Consistent Investing – OIP Trust
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[On October 28th, OMI USA JPIC Director, Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI lectured students on ethics and finance during a course at Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA]
The course- MS&E 148: Ethics of Finance – Explores the ethical reasoning needed to make banking, insurance and financial services safer, fairer and more positively impactful and fit for purpose in the 21st Century. This also follows the movement from shareholder to stakeholder capitalism.
The presentation explored the religious and philosophical roots of ethical practice in finance and banking and discussed particular challenges that individual countries and other major institutions operating in a global financial system face.
In addition, the presentation focused on responsibilities of shareholders in a capitalist system and how that has evolved in recent years to discussions about stakeholder capitalism and the absence of environment, workers and local communities as major stakeholders in the system.
The presentation concluded with a robust discussion on how corporate retail shareholders can be more active in exercising their ownership and integrating their beliefs and values into the decision-making process. This, of course, includes engaging corporate leaders either through proxy votes or attending their annual general meetings.
The 50-year Legacy of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) in this arena was an important part of my presentation.
Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility’ Hosts “Navigating Troubled Waters” September 23rd, 2024
On September 19, Frs. Daniel LeBlanc, OMI and Valentine Talang, OMI joined stakeholders and thought leaders in New York City at Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility’s (ICCR) Annual Conference Event – “Navigating Troubled Waters.”
Corporations play an important role in supporting the resilient and vibrant democracy needed to sustain healthy civic engagement, accountable governance, and a stable economy where business can thrive. However, in today’s politically charged landscape, corporations often face significant challenges navigating their support for democratic values without appearing partisan or becoming entangled in controversy.
In the lead-up to the U.S. elections, the group convened to discuss how corporations can best exemplify good corporate citizenship without furthering the divisiveness of our national discourse.
Visit ICCR’s website to learn more about their work
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Vatican Conference Encourages Adoption of Mensuram Bonam November 15th, 2023
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Companies Urged to Keep COVID-19 Drugs Affordable Amid Pandemic May 8th, 2020
Now that the Food and Drug Administration has authorized remdesivir for emergency use in seriously ill COVID-19 patients, the experimental drug is another step closer to full approval. That’s when most drugs get price tags.
Gilead Sciences, which makes remdesivir, is donating its initial supply of 1.5 million doses, but the company has signaled it will need to start charging for the drug to make production sustainable. It’s unclear when that decision might be made. Read the full article at NPR.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels
In early April investor members of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) sent letters to the CEOs of fourteen pharmaceutical companies calling for a collaborative approach in the development of health technologies, including diagnostics, treatments and a vaccine in the global fight against Covid-19.
The letter was sent to AbbVie (ABBV); Amgen (AMGN); Biogen (BIIB); Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY); Gilead (GILD); GlaxoSmithKline (GSK); Eli Lilly (LLY); Johnson & Johnson (JNJ); Merck (MRK); Pfizer (PFE); Novartis (NVS); Roche (RHHBY); Sanofi (SNY) and; Vertex (VRTX). Read more.
As companies go virtual with Annual General Meetings, shareholders are finding ways to still participate in the process and convey concerns. ICCR has launched #AskTheCEO, a campaign to capture shareholders’ questions at these virtual meetings.
Visit ICCR’s website to read more about their #AskTheCEO campaign and watch shareholder videos.
Taking a Stand: ICCR Hosts Annual Event on Protecting Human Rights Defenders November 6th, 2019
On Tuesday, October 29, Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) hosted its annual event, “Taking a Stand: Corporate Action to Protect Human Rights Defenders” in New York City. The event focused on protecting human rights defenders from the threats they face. Moderator, Chris Jochnick, led an exciting discussion with Ines Osman of MENA Rights Group; Nicole Karlebach of Oath: A Verizon Company; and Bennett Freeman of the Institute for Human Rights and Business.
Later on conference participants, including ICCR Board Chair, Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI, celebrated the event’s success at a reception.
