What shouldn’t Catholics invest in, and why did it take ten episodes to get here? In Part 10 of our Mensuram Bonam series, Sean, AJ and Anthony turn to exclusionary criteria. We explain why the list only makes sense once the purpose of investing is clear.

We go through the broad categories the document names: upholding the dignity of human life, avoiding destructive behaviours, recognizing global and sustainability impacts, and protecting the environment. Then we test them on real cases. These include a casino business built to keep people gambling, companies sitting close to credit card usury, and a food additive company whose products make food cheaper and worse. Reasonable people can disagree, and discernment matters more than any fixed list.

We also look at how you invest, not only what you own. We cover leverage, day trading and passive indexing, and why a patient, long-term steward sits between thoughtlessness and speculation. We also mention Altum, a resource for checking whether companies align with Catholic Social Teaching.

Disclaimer: Sean Gregory is a Portfolio Manager and AJ Sanson and Anthony De Lazzari are Investment Advisors with iA Private Wealth Inc., member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization. iA Private Wealth is a trademark and business name under which iA Private Wealth Inc. operates. This content was fully or partially generated by artificial intelligence. The advisor reviewed the critical information independently.

If a company you own does something that conflicts with your faith, should you use your voice as a shareholder or sell and move on? In Part 9 of our series on Mensuram Bonam, Sean, AJ and Anthony work through paragraphs 42 and 43, the document’s practical calls to engage and to enhance.

The hosts set out how they decide when engagement makes sense: whether the problem is a minor or central part of the business, whether change is realistic, how much weight the investor actually carries, and why every engagement needs a clear exit timeline. They also warn against a common trap, which is using engagement to excuse an investment you wanted to make for other reasons.

From there the conversation turns to positive criteria. Avoiding harm is only the first step. Faith-consistent investing also looks for good, useful and productive work, done with excellence. That is often found in ordinary businesses, from garbage collection to natural gas delivery. The hosts explain why investing should not be confused with charity, and why ESG is not a synonym for Catholic Social Teaching. As Mensuram Bonam puts it, the aim is a Catholic finance, not a finance that happens to be Catholic.

In this episode:

• When engaging with a company is worth it and when to walk away
• Why engagement can’t justify investing in anything
• Positive criteria and the mundane businesses worth backing
• Why investing and charity belong in separate baskets
• How ESG falls short of Catholic Social Teaching on human flourishing

Disclaimer: Sean Gregory is a Portfolio Manager and AJ Sanson and Anthony De Lazzari are Investment Advisors with iA Private Wealth Inc., member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization. iA Private Wealth is a trademark and business name under which iA Private Wealth Inc. operates.

This content was fully or partially generated by artificial intelligence. The advisor reviewed the critical information independently.

Catholic investing often raises a difficult question: does bringing faith and ethics into the investment process mean accepting lower returns? In Mensuram Bonam Part 8, Sean, AJ, and Anthony examine that assumption and explore the relationship between investment performance, professional responsibility, and moral duty. The conversation challenges the idea that returns must always be the highest priority and asks what responsible stewardship looks like when financial goals and conscience are considered together.

The discussion also turns to the practical side of Catholic investing. The hosts consider direct ownership of individual companies, mutual funds, ETFs, and the importance of looking beyond a Catholic label to understand how an investment process is actually being applied. They discuss why some progress toward alignment can be better than abandoning the effort entirely, while also emphasizing the need for careful discernment, ongoing review, and clarity about what an investor is willing to own.

The episode also explores shareholder engagement, difficult gray areas, and a deeper question for investors: if a portfolio does underperform a market benchmark for a period of time, does that automatically mean the investment approach has failed? For Catholics seeking greater unity between faith and finance, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at prudence, performance, moral responsibility, and what it means to invest with a clear sense of purpose.

Disclaimer: Sean Gregory is a Portfolio Manager and AJ Sanson and Anthony De Lazzari are Investment Advisors with iA Private Wealth Inc., member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization. iA Private Wealth is a trademark and business name under which iA Private Wealth Inc. operates.

This content was fully or partially generated by artificial intelligence. The advisor reviewed the critical information independently.