the staff of the Ridgewood blog
ATCHISON KANSAS , Forget picket signs. These sisters prefer stock portfolios. In a plot twist worthy of a Netflix docuseries, a group of Benedictine nuns in Atchison, Kansas is flipping the script on Wall Street—turning holy habits into shareholder activism and corporate accountability.
Sister Act: Wall Street Edition
Led by the fiercely serene Sister Barbara McCracken, this squad of spiritual investors is making waves in the boardrooms of America’s biggest corporations—not by storming the gates, but by buying in.
“We invest in companies where we think change is needed,” says Sister Rose-Marie Stallbaumer. “Then we politely show up to demand it. You know—nun style.”
From Prayer to Proxy Votes
Here’s how it works: drop at least $2,000 into a company’s stock, earn the right to be a shareholder, then start filing resolutions that tackle everything from child labor to executive pay inequality. Amen to that!
Recent targets of the sisters’ sanctified scrutiny include:
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Alphabet (Google) – to reel in AI like it’s the Terminator.
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Chevron – to establish human rights monitoring (because oil and ethics don’t always mix).
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Amazon & Verizon – to clean up their lobbying acts.
The companies didn’t respond to ABC News’ request for comment. (Probably because they weren’t expecting a holy inquisition via shareholder resolution.)
Retirement Planning with a Side of Righteous Justice
While the sisters’ stock market strategy secures their retirement (no pension from the Vatican, folks), it’s also a divine way to live out their mission.
“We’ve always worked to support ourselves,” says McCracken. “No secret vaults of gold under the chapel. Just good old-fashioned investing with a side of social justice.”
Even though none of their resolutions have passed yet, the sisters say their persistent presence is starting to pay off.
“Companies are beginning to ask us what their human rights policies should look like,” says Stallbaumer. “And we’re more than happy to tell them—with love, of course.”
Habits & Holding Companies
These aren’t your average day-trading nuns. They’ve been arrested at immigration protests. They’re fluent in ethics and earnings reports. And they’re here to stay—because what’s more long-term than a nun’s commitment?
Sister Stallbaumer puts it best: “We’re in this for the long haul. Eternity has great returns.”