On November 17, 2021, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) approved new Socially Responsible Investment Guidelines, the first update since 2003. While the Guidelines are intended to direct the USCCB’s investments and other activities related to corporate responsibility, they serve as an inspiration that helps inform the investment decisions of many religious communities, dioceses, universities, healthcare organizations, and Catholic foundations, at their discretion.
In this update, CBIS provides our investors with a progress report on CBIS’ alignment with the USCCB Socially Responsible Investment Guidelines.
Summary of Significant New Updates and Status of CBIS Alignment
| Policy Area | USCCB Guidelines on Investment Restrictions | USCCB Guidelines on Active Ownership | Status of CBIS Alignment |
| Abortion, Euthanasia, and Assisted Suicide | X | X | Complete |
| In Vitro Fertilization | X | Complete | |
| Embryonic Stem Cell and Fetal Tissue Research; Human Cloning | X | Complete | |
| Access to Drugs and Vaccines | X | Complete | |
| Human Rights | X | X | Complete |
| Discrimination | X | Complete | |
| Pornography and Commercial Sexual Exploitation | X | X | Complete |
| Human Trafficking and Forced Labor | X | Complete | |
| The Human Person | X | X | Complete |
| Marriage, Sexual Integrity, and Family | X | Complete | |
| Contraceptives | X | Complete | |
| Reducing Arms Production | X | X | Complete |
| Addictive Materials or Harmful Habitual Behaviors | X | X | Complete |
| Media & Telecommunications | X | X | Complete |
| Labor Standards | X | Complete | |
| Affordable Housing/ Banking | X | Complete | |
| Climate Change | X | X | Complete |
| Biodiversity | X | X | Complete |
| Water and Natural Resources | X | X | Complete |
| Technology | X | Complete | |
| Environmental Impact | X | X | Complete |