—Pope Francis, Laudato Si' 129, 24 May 2015

Tell the SEC to maintain the rights of shareholders to bring environmental and social concerns to companies!

The Sisters of Mercy have a long tradition of using many forms of advocacy to advance justice and protect creation. Shareholder advocacy, which Mercy has done for 50 years, is now under attack by the very institution that should be protecting it. You can learn more about Mercy’s history of this work by watching this anniversary video.

Like many other regulatory bodies right now, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed rollbacks to important protections. In particular, the SEC is considering removing shareholders’ right to bring environmental and social concerns to the companies that need to improve their climate, community and worker impacts.

You may oppose the SEC’s changes by signing this petition that will be used on a rolling basis to show how the public does not want weakened protections against corporate misbehavior. You may add your personal concerns to the form as well.

The Sisters of Mercy’s commitment to justice and peace is supported by all forms of advocacy.

  Sign the petition here!  

Background

Coalitions of faith-based investors have worked as active shareholders to engage meaningfully with the companies in our portfolios through the process of shareholder advocacy for more than 50 years.

Mercy Investment Services joins other faith-based investors to uphold guiding principles including the necessity of companies looking beyond the next earnings report to account for the full impact of their businesses on society. We believe companies must view the well-being of all of their stakeholders—including the environment, their workers and the communities where they operate—as integral to their long-term value.

Shareholder resolutions are one of the few opportunities that all ordinary American investors, including faith-based investors, have to raise concerns about business risks with the companies that they own. A shareholder’s legal right to place resolutions on the proxy, and the freedom to express a collective voice by voting on such proposals, are part of the longstanding social and legal compact between investors and companies that maintains the trust needed for capital markets to run smoothly.

Environmental, social and governance shareholder resolutions play a pivotal role in surfacing key issues that company boards— the representatives of shareholders—may not be aware of, or may not be adequately managing.

Despite the enormous benefits of shareholder proposals, a range of anti-democratic, big-money interests are working to take away this right. 2025 and 2026 have been a tumultuous period for shareholder rights; now is the time to indicate that this form of advocacy is an important tool for justice.

Learn more about Mercy Investment Services’ socially responsible investing program guided by the Sisters of Mercy values, charism, and Critical Concerns here.