A group of 80 nuns from the Mount St. Scholastica monastery in Atchison, Kansas, has emerged as a persistent force in shareholder activism, challenging major corporations on a range of issues. Led by Sister Barbara McCracken, the nuns have taken on companies such as Google, Target, and Citigroup, advocating for artificial intelligence oversight, pesticide measurement, and the rights of Indigenous people. Despite facing resistance from some companies, the nuns remain committed to their cause, viewing themselves as a small but persistent irritant to corporate giants.
The nuns’ recent viral denouncement of a commencement speech by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker at Benedictine College highlighted their commitment to women’s education and their concern over gender roles. With a long history of founding schools and a community that includes professionals with doctorates, the nuns invest in corporations that align with their religious ideals while also holding shares in companies they seek to influence. Through proposing resolutions at annual shareholder meetings, often with minimal investments as low as $2,000, the nuns have called on companies like Chevron, Amazon, Netflix, and pharmaceutical firms to reassess their policies on human rights, lobbying expenditures, diversity, and drug pricing.
The Mount St. Scholastica sisters’ involvement in faith-based shareholder activism can be traced back to the early 1970s when religious groups pushed for American companies to withdraw from South Africa due to apartheid. In 2004, the nuns joined the Benedictine Coalition for Responsible Investment, collaborating with the Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) to leverage assets for social justice-oriented causes. While their resolutions often face low success rates and are usually nonbinding, they serve as educational tools and raise awareness. Over time, the nuns have witnessed growing support for their resolutions, with some garnering as much as 30% or even majority backing.
Despite the slow progress, the nuns remain steadfast in their efforts, driven by their commitment to protest and social justice. Sister Barbara McCracken, a peace activist and the primary submitter of the nuns’ resolutions, has been involved in various protests throughout her life. The sisters live by the Benedictine motto of “pray and work,” pooling their resources to support their ministries and investments. Their ecological focus, which includes addressing climate change through shareholder resolutions, is reflected in their use of land for composting, solar panels, community gardens, and beekeeping.
The nuns’ activism has occasionally drawn criticism for being too liberal, partly due to their focus on causes beyond opposition to abortion. However, they maintain that they adhere to church teachings while championing other social justice issues. Sister Barbara McCracken, now in her 85th year, finds shareholder activism to be a way to continue her advocacy work even when physical limitations prevent her from participating in street protests.