With this step, Seattle University joins the growing number of Catholic universities and institutions who have taken this bold step to stand up for our shared home. Students at Seattle University have pushed for divestment with other students at Catholic universities across the country as a member of the Catholic Divestment Network (CDN). This organization, which Fossil Free Notre Dame (FFND) is a part of, also includes representatives from universities such as Boston College, Georgetown, Gonzaga, Loyola Marymount and many others. The CDN provides resources, support and coordination between divestment campaigns across campuses with a goal of reaching full divestment at each university. FFND applauds the success of our fellow Catholics in refusing to profit off climate change and in standing up for environmental and social justice.
Divestment is not simply a movement among a small number of U.S. Catholic universities. Pope Francis’s call has a global reach that will take all of us to answer. For instance, the Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) calls on all Catholic institutions to divest as a “witness to their faith.” The GCCM has seen over 122 Catholic institutions commit to full or partial fossil fuel divestment, including most recently Caritas India and the Irish Catholics Bishops’ Conference.
While the international divestment movement continues to gain momentum and Catholics everywhere are realizing the urgent need to protect our shared home, we have not seen our own University make the same commitment. FFND is proud to see that Notre Dame has committed to cease burning coal in our power plant and has undertaken initiatives such as energy efficiency improvements, new renewable projects and recycling efforts. However, our University still has a lot of work to do, with approximately 4 percent of our $13.1 billion endowment continuing to be invested in companies that perpetuate the wreckage of our climate. Notre Dame’s $520 million obviously will not cause the fossil fuel companies to immediately fail, but we can certainly do our part as Catholics and benefiters of our shared planet to not profit from climate change. FFND again calls on Notre Dame, inspired by the recent actions of Catholic institutions like Seattle University, to divest from fossil fuels. Everyday, we are reminded by the prestigious position that our University has in shaping international discussions on morality and the duty that we all have to social justice. It’s time to take the lead.Anna Scartz
junior
Adam Wiechman
junior
Oct. 24
