Italian Jesuits Part of Largest Joint Catholic Divestment Movement

The divestment movement from fossil fuels keeps growing.  In October 2016, our blogpost covered the then largest joint faith-based divestment announcement made, comprising seven Catholic institutions.

Late last week, an additional nine Catholic institutions jointly announced the withdrawal of investments from fossil fuel companies, placing this announcement in the lead.

The nine divesting Catholic institutions comprise:

• The Italian Jesuits – Italy
• The Diocese of Pescara – Italy
• Il Dialogo – Italy
• Rete Interdiocesana Nuovi Stili di Vita – Italy
• Siloe Monastic Community – Italy
• MGR Foundation – USA
• Wheaton Franciscan Sisters, Daughters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary – USA
• St Joseph’s Province of the Congregation of the Passion, English Province of the Passionists – UK
• The Mission Congregation of the Servants of the Holy Spirit – Global

The announcement coincides with the May 2017 international negotiations taking place on the implementing measures of the Paris Agreement on climate change.

“Global temperatures last year were, for the third year running, the hottest on record. Catholics around the world have recognised the impact this has on our sisters and brothers and are responding to the Pope’s call for us to take action”, said Neil Thorns, Director of Advocacy at the Catholic International Development Charity (CAFOD).

For more information on divestment and ethical investment, please visit https://justiceinmining.org/2016/08/18/fossil-fuel-divestment-where-do-jesuit-institutions-fit-in/ and https://justiceinmining.org/ethical-investment/

A divest-reinvest toolkit for Catholic communities seeking to divest from fossil fuels is also available from: https://gofossilfree.org/divest-reinvest-toolkit/

For access to Catholic divest-invest news and resources, please visit the Catholic Divest-Invest Hub.