The ICCR Legacy Award

Rev. Séamus Finn has been a steadfast evangelist for faith-consistent and socially responsible investing both domestically and on the global stage, contributing to evolving Catholic Social Teaching on shareholder engagement, creating bridges between faith investors and the larger investment ecosphere, and exploring ways to bring international perspectives and to apply the principles of multiparty dialogue to shareholder advocacy. Séamus’s truly global perspective of investing as a trustee of the OIP Investment Trust established by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate has focused on “who’s not at the table” and brings those communities’ concerns to bear when trying to make change, with companies, lawmakers, and global financial institutions. Along with his colleagues at ICCR, Séamus led seminal engagements with the nation’s leading banks, calling out the risks of uncollateralized mortgages years before the 2008 financial crisis, and he was a leading voice on human rights and worker rights challenges in both the global mining and apparel sectors. Séamus also served multiple terms as ICCR board chair, helping to steward the governance of our coalition and ensure its financial sustainability.

Said Cathy Rowan of Trinity Health, “Séamus is a tireless seeker of economic and social justice.  The critical questions he brings to corporate engagements, whether it be mining companies or the banks, come from his experiences and those of his Oblate community and the people and places they serve. Within the ICCR community, he has brought his leadership skills and new ways of doing impact investing.  I’m grateful for the many years of working with and learning from him.  Congratulations on receiving the Legacy Award, Séamus!”

Said Sr. Barbara Aires of the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth, “Séamus has enormous skills as a linguist of several languages, writing, and speaking with great clarity, passion, and abundant humor. He came to every meeting well prepared, truly inspired by deep-rooted faith in order to speak for so many in need, especially the workers in apparel and mining communities that he met wherever his Order had missions. He gave his ICCR colleagues more items to read than we could handle.”

Said Katie McCloskey of Mercy Investment Services, “Séamus’s involvement in creating the Catholic document Mensuram Bonam is one notable way in which his work contributes to the growth and potential for ICCR. This Catholic document calls to all investors of faith to the actions of “voice, vote and exit.” This invitation to dialogue is in direct support of the goals of ICCR, as a new and different cohort of investors will be called to align their investments with their faith precepts and values. Séamus’s influence on the way corporate engagement was described in this document is obvious and important, a lasting endorsement of shareholder and investor dialogue from the leadership of the Catholic church and ecumenical efforts.”

Amy and Séamus will be honored at our annual event on October 23rd at the Riverside Church in NYC. Please join us in congratulating them both for their outstanding achievements and their enduring legacies in sustainable and faith-consistent investing.