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Conservatives of faith today are often demonized in our secular culture as Handmaid’s Tale fundamentalists and “white Christian nationalists” (i.e., A Threat to Democracy™). We are punished financially with woke corporate tactics like the de-monetizing of our YouTube accounts, or even debanking – political and religious discrimination waged by financial institutions against customers with “incorrect” political opinions. The Horowitz Freedom Center itself has been targeted in this fashion.
Principled Christians concerned about aligning their faith with their financial life cannot do better than to investigate Faithful Finances: Six Steps to Establishing a Catholic Financial Life, a new book by Christopher McMahon. As you might expect from the president and CEO of a company called Aquinas Wealth Advisors, the book is addressed primarily to Catholics, but the strategy holds true for people of other faiths as well. I can vouch personally for this slim volume as an indispensable manual for developing a family mission statement and guiding financial principles.
I posed some questions to the author about navigating woke corporate capitalism, and thriving in a cultural environment that is often openly hostile to Christian conservatives.
Mark Tapson: Chris, I imagine most people assume investing is all about simply getting as much return as possible on their investment, but would you say there’s growing, if not unprecedented, motivation these days to align faith and finance? And what are some of the obstacles or quandaries that principled investors face when making financial choices?
Christopher McMahon: A recent Schwab survey confirmed that over 70% of people want their investments to align with their values. This is a significant shift and a real change from just 20 years ago. And this trend isn’t limited to a specific group; it applies to all Americans, which is exciting. No matter what you care about, you can now use your financial choices to support those values.
For people of faith, this is a relatively new opportunity. In recent years, investors have had a few faith-based mutual funds to choose from. We’ve been part of the transformation in Catholic investing, helping people of faith fully understand what they’re supporting and providing them with the chance to invest in line with their faith, for the first time, while still offering competitive returns.
MT: The book is, of course, directed at a Catholic audience, but can the principles in it apply generally to other Christians as well – or for that matter, people of other faiths?
CM: While the subtitle is Six Steps to Establishing a Catholic Financial Life, the principles within it are without a doubt meant to help any person of faith support the values they hold most dear. Dignity of every human life, dignity of work, the dignity of traditional values, and the uplifting of the oppressed – in short, the teachings of Jesus. The book helps you create a mission for your family, define your core values, set practical goals, and identify the guiding principles that matter most to you. As you grow in understanding and applying your faith’s values — whatever they may be — you’ll find a deeper sense of peace and financial freedom by aligning your money with what you truly believe in.
MT: The ESG (environmental, social, governance) metric seems to be everywhere in terms of its influence on corporations and investors. How are ESG policies problematic for faith-conscious investing, and how can one avoid them and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies, which you call “ESG’s ugly stepbrother”?
CM: The ESG movement is everywhere these days, influencing both corporations and investors, but when you dig deeper, you see how problematic it can be for faith-conscious investing. It’s easy to forget that ESG originally emerged out of compassion, with a desire to make the world a better place. But over time, this movement has been twisted into an ideology that often runs counter to the values many people of faith hold dear. It has become something that undermines fairness and what’s right. That’s why we’re seeing such a strong backlash and a dismantling of the DEI and ESG movements.
Our system, our country, is built on merit—the idea that people should be judged on their abilities and efforts. Any program that turns its back on that fundamental principle cannot stand the test of time, and we’re witnessing that today. Compassion and love, of course, are the cornerstones of Christ’s teachings, and they must always be at the forefront of our actions. However, in the rush to embrace these corporate movements, faith and values were often pushed aside as corporate America bent a knee to this misguided ideology.
Now, we’re seeing a powerful response as people of faith wake up, speak freely, and begin examining these policies for what they truly are. Concepts like boys in girls’ sports simply don’t make sense, and they’re unfair. This is why they are being challenged. Faithful investing isn’t just about money, it’s about staying true to our values in the face of a growing corporate culture that often doesn’t align with those principles. Despite the rise of ESG and DEI, we’re not doomed—people of faith are standing strong, challenging the system, and ensuring their financial decisions reflect their core beliefs.
MT: Wokeness in general seems to be losing traction and influence in the culture; would you say woke corporate capitalism is also on the wane?
CM: Woke capitalism is absolutely losing traction, and it’s happening fast. At the end of the day, these companies are driven by one thing: what they believe will drive their stock price. Unfortunately, many who embraced these woke values mistakenly thought corporate America was genuinely aligned with them. But as soon as consumers and shareholders pushed back, corporations quickly realized they were alienating half of their customer base.
The reality is, the woke corporate culture is evaporating, and the DEI/ESG industry is collapsing. This shift is forcing those who have relied on these ideologies to scramble and adapt to a merit-based system that focuses on what really matters. Corporations are waking up to the fact that they can’t afford to ignore the values of the majority, and they’re beginning to refocus on what truly drives success.
MT: The bulk of the book lays out your six-step plan for aligning faith and money. I don’t want you to have to give away too many spoilers, but can you briefly describe a few of those steps?
CM: The most important step in the process is articulating a family mission statement. Everything hinges on the key members of the family coming together and saying, “This is what we believe, and this is what we want reflected in our financial lives.” Without this foundation, it’s impossible to move forward with any real direction. Once that’s established, another critical step is the development of a budget and an accumulation plan, which we discuss in great detail. This helps ensure you’re intentionally managing your finances in a way that aligns with your values, allowing you to grow your wealth while staying true to your faith. These steps, together, form the core framework for aligning your financial life with your beliefs, setting the stage for a life of purpose-driven financial decisions.
MT: You don’t address this specifically in the book, but “debanking” has been weaponized for political purposes, such as when Canada targeted truck drivers’ bank accounts for protesting the COVID mandate. Is there anything conservative customers can do to avoid or protect themselves from this threat?
CM: I believe we’re in a much better environment for truth now than a few years ago. Advances in AI have made it much harder for corporations to mislead investors about the social activities they’re supporting. People are waking up and demanding more transparency and accountability.
For conservative customers concerned about “debanking” and political targeting, the key is staying informed and proactive. Research which banks and financial institutions align with your values. There are more options than ever to choose partners who respect your beliefs and avoid those that might use their power against you. Stay vigilant, and you can protect yourself and your money.
Follow Mark Tapson at Culture Warrior
