Franciscan Sisters of Mary

The Midwest Coalition for Responsible Investment (MCRI), a coalition of treasurers and social justice directors from area religious communities, is sponsoring a dinner and a panel to educate average investors on how they can use their investments wisely in this financial crisis. Panelists will include representatives of Monsanto, Alberici and others.

The program will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. March 18, 2009, at St. Catherine Laboure Parish Hall, 9740 Sappington Road, in south St. Louis County. Tickets to the event are $20 each, dinner included.

MCRI assists its members to use their financial resources to reverse situations of injustice while working in dialogue with corporations. MCRI also monitors corporate social responsibility in areas such as human rights, access to health care, product safety and integrity of creation.

“We bring a moral, pro-life voice to corporations,” says Sister Barbara Jennings, CSJ, MCRI coordinator. “As men and women religious and laity, we have an obligation to put our money where our mouth is. Through this event, we are reaching out to the average investor who is searching for a way to invest responsibly as well as lucratively.”

Local religious communities who are currently members of MCRI are: Adorers of the Blood of Christ; Franciscan Sisters of Mary; Congregation of the Mission Midwest Province (Vincentians); Daughters of Charity, St. Louis Province; Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help; Jesuits of the Missouri Province; Marianist Province of the United States; Religious of the Sacred Heart; St. Mary’s Institute (Sisters of the Most Precious Blood of O’Fallon, Mo.); School Sisters of Notre Dame of St. Louis; Sisters of Loretto; Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province; and Ursuline Sisters, Central Province. Individuals are also associate members.

MCRI is affiliated with the InterfaithCenter on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), a research, education and action-oriented organization headquartered in New York City.

For more information or reservations, contact Sister Barbara Jennings, CSJ, at 314.638.5453 or midwest.coalition@yahoo.com.

September 2007

The Franciscan Sisters of Mary, headquartered in Richmond Heights, MO, have taken a Corporate Stance against the use of the death penalty:

In light of our commitment to the value and dignity of human life, we join our voices with those who oppose the use of the death penalty. Jesus Christ provides a guiding moral vision for us. He urged the disciples and us to abandon the law of retaliation, to love our enemies, to confront evil without violence, and to forgive our persecutors. As followers of Christ, we stand for justice without vengeance.
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Religious leaders from around the country flocked to Selma to join the march to Montgomery. "I am here because I am a Negro, a nun, a Catholic, and because I want to bear witness."
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