[Question:]{.underline} Can a Catholic invest in a company that makes profit from immoral products or activities, such as a drug company?
[Answer:]{.underline} Such an investment is generally to be considered a formal cooperation, and not just a material cooperation, since it is deliberately chosen. It is consequently not permissible, provided that the immoral activities are known to the investor.
However, the case could arrive when a person’s investment portfolio includes a variety of different companies, chosen by his investment or superannuation plan, and over which he has no direct control. In such a case it would only be a material cooperation, and could be tolerated if there were no choice. Another case of material cooperation would occur if the immoral activity were a very small part of a company’s activities, and the investment were made rather for the other honest activities. However, this is a more direct material cooperation, especially if the person concerned is aware of the immoral activities, and could only be permissible for a proportionately grave reason.
This being said, Catholics should not be troubled in conscience if they invest in the usual banking institutions, of whose particular investments and activities they are unaware. In modern society, it is impossible to avoid all material cooperation, for it is sometimes very remote and unknown. Nevertheless, how much better it would be to invest one’s savings and efforts in Catholic endeavors and businesses, penetrated by the Church’s social principles, according to justice and charity.
Answered by Father Peter Scott, SSPX.