Companies whose activities are so fundamentally in conflict with the faith-based values of Catholic investors that we cannot in good conscience profit from their activities are ordinarily excluded from CBIS investment portfolios.  These include companies whose products or services violate a consistent life ethic, those involved in militarism and violence, and the pornography and tobacco industries.  

Our principled purchasing criteria (stock screens) exclude on average only about 6% of publicly traded companies – thereby minimizing the impact on portfolio composition, diversification and investment returns. Analysis of our principled purchasing program indicates that it has not materially impacted performance of CBIS funds vs. the composite returns of our investment managers over the long term. At the same time, use of the widest range of advocacy strategies, shareholder resolutions, dialogues, and proxy voting - maximizes our potential impact on corporate behavior.

Our principled purchasing criteria include:

Life Ethics
CBIS excludes from investment companies whose products or services violate the Catholic Church’s teachings on a consistent life ethic, including contraceptives, embryonic stem cell research, and abortion-related products and services.

Militarism and Violence
CBIS excludes from investment companies involved in the spread of violence worldwide, particularly those whose products have a devastating impact on children.  These include manufacturers of firearms for the consumer market; companies involved in the manufacture of landmines; and major weapons contractors contributing to the spread of global militarism. 

The policy is informed by the balance between the need for national defense and concern over the global buildup of arms for offensive purposes.

Pornography
CBIS excludes from investment companies whose primary line of business is products or services aimed exclusively at inducing sexual excitement or a prurient interest in sex (including sexually-oriented films and entertainment, publications, software, telephone and Internet services).

Tobacco
CBIS excludes from investment companies that manufacture, process, trade or distribute wholesale tobacco and tobacco products.