Corporations and the Common Good

By Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI

(Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI, is the Director of the U.S. Office of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation. His responsibilities include working for economic justice and holding corporations accountable for their actions. The link below to an article published by The Register reports on recent corporate responses to calls for tax transparency.)

For more than 130 years Catholic social teaching has been shining the light of the gospel on the pressing social and economic issues of the day and because of that engagement, CST has articulated guidelines and principles whereby local regional and global economies can be evaluated and urged to serve the well-being of all peoples including future generations. Throughout his pontificate Pope Francis has frequently drawn our attention to the responsibility that we all have to promote the common good and care for the earth our common home. This was highlighted in a special way at the recent “Economy of Francesco” conference that was convened at Assisi and that he participated in.

The shareholder resolution on tax transparency and accountability that the Missionary Oblates and other shareholders have filed with the CISCO, Amazon and Microsoft companies is consistent with the principles of CST and serves to remind all companies about their legal and moral obligation to promote the common good. As shareholders in CISCO we and all other shareholders are obliged to be responsible owners. -Séamus Finn, OMI

“Cisco asks shareholders to vote against global tax transparency”

Click here to view the copyrighted article from The Register