First of all, let's define who faith-based investors are: local church congregations, dioceses or equivalent regional church organisations, national religious pension and savings funds, monastic or religious congregations, as well as faith-motivated individuals and/or family offices.
Second, it is important to say that there is very little coordination in the investment policies of these various organisations, but I pray that this is changing. I note and salute the Pontifical Academy for Social Sciences at the Vatican, for releasing their first attempt at doing so in the modern sense, via Pope Francis’ new publication Mensuram Bonam.
Third, these faith-based organizations (FBOs) are wealthier than they have ever been in the past. Despite radically declining operating figures in the Western world (attendance, donations, etc) the bank accounts themselves are doing as well as any other institutional investor. In other words, the pews may be empty, but the bank accounts are full - taken overall per faith (i.e. all Christian, all Jewish, all Muslim etc).
