(Lepanto Institute) — Two members of the governing board of Investor Advocates for Social Justice (IASJ), an organization representing dozens of Catholic religious communities, also serve as executives of Planned Parenthood.
Sharon Flores-Britt is IASJ’s vice chair and treasurer and works as assistant controller at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, while IASJ board member Michelle Perez is also on the Board of Planned Parenthood Metropolitan New Jersey.
In addition to these connections to Planned Parenthood, IASJ has received funds from donor groups that have simultaneously given tens of thousands to Planned Parenthood. Further, its investment clients include Catholic religious sisters that openly push LGBT ideology. Additionally, affiliate members of IASJ pay dues to the organization, which directly translates into Catholic funds being sent to an institution partially governed by Planned Parenthood executives.
From a Catholic perspective, the problems with Investor Advocates for Social Justice and its Catholic-affiliated network are thus:
- Two members of the IASJ Board of Trustees have executive roles within Planned Parenthood.
- Sharon Flores-Britt is IASJ vice chair and treasurer and works as assistant controller at Planned Parenthood Federation of America and has publicly promoted Planned Parenthood’s abortion activism, including its calls for “reproductive freedom” and the #ImForPP campaign.
- Flores-Britt has also promoted Planned Parenthood’s agenda and contraception, including advertising employment with Planned Parenthood, helping train new employees, and reposting a Gates Foundation post promoting contraception as a means of giving women greater control over their futures.
- Michelle Perez, another member of the IASJ Board of Trustees, is also on the board of Planned Parenthood Metropolitan New Jersey, giving IASJ two board members with executive roles within Planned Parenthood.
- Financial funding ties: Public records show IASJ has received grants from philanthropic foundations that have also funded organizations involved in abortion and “reproductive rights” activism, including the Wallace Global Fund and Omidyar Network.
- LGBT activism: Several IASJ Catholic affiliates have publicly supported LGBT ideology, including the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, and the Ursuline Sisters of the Roman Union, which have publicly expressed support for LGBT propaganda and indoctrination of children.
Sharon Florez, Planned Parenthood Executive
Sharon Flores-Britt, CPA, serves as vice chair and treasurer of investor advocates for social justice (IASJ) while working as assistant controller at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the nation’s largest abortion chain. IASJ’s own website identifies Flores-Britt in both positions.
Flores-Britt’s own LinkedIn profile also prominently lists her title at Planned Parenthood.
Not only does Flores-Britt work as assistant controller at Planned Parenthood, she has also publicly promoted abortion, contraception, and other practices contrary to Catholic morals.
The evidence shows that Flores-Britt:
- works for the nation’s largest abortion organization, Planned Parenthood, whose mission she announced she was “extremely passionate about”;
- has publicly reposted Planned Parenthood’s activism for “reproductive freedom” and its #ImForPP mobilization campaign;
- openly opposed the defunding of Planned Parenthood by the Trump administration;
- has promoted abortion, contraception, “sex education,” and transgender procedures as “essential health care services” provided by Planned Parenthood;
- advertised employment opportunities and helped train new employees at the abortion giant;
- and promoted contraception as a means of economic security and liberation for women, as pushed by the Gates Foundation.
In a LinkedIn post announcing her new position, Flores-Britt wrote: “I’m thrilled to share that I’m starting a new position as Assistant Controller at Planned Parenthood Federation of America!” She said she was looking forward to contributing to the organization and its mission.
Her LinkedIn profile states that she has worked for Planned Parenthood for 1 year and 11 months, since October 2024.
Planned Parenthood’s 2024–2025 annual report records 434,450 abortions, along with more than 2.2 million birth control “services” nationwide. The abortion giant has also become involved in the chemical castration of minors by supplying hormone blockers and cross-sex hormones to children.
In addition to working for the nation’s largest abortion provider, Flores-Britt has openly promoted Planned Parenthood and its agenda of “reproductive freedom.” Her LinkedIn activity shows that she has reposted several Planned Parenthood activism posts.
One such Planned Parenthood Federation of America post declared: “Planned Parenthood Federation of America will never stop working to build a future of reproductive freedom for all.” It called on corporations to work with Planned Parenthood’s corporate-engagement team and to align company policies with “comprehensive reproductive and maternal health benefit offerings.” The post included hashtags #ReproductiveJustice and #reproductiverights, euphemisms for abortion.
In another post that Flores-Britt reposted, Planned Parenthood called on its “allies and friends” to participate in a “National Digital Day of Action in support of Planned Parenthood patients.” It urged supporters to promote Planned Parenthood on their own social-media accounts and supplied the suggested message: “Today we’re proud to join Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s Digital Day of Action and over 19 million Planned Parenthood supporters to say #ImForPP.”
The post came in response to the Trump administration’s withholding of Title X funds from Planned Parenthood in 2025, a move pro-lifers praised at the time.
Among the “essential health care services” the post promoted were birth control, “sex education,” abortion, and “gender affirming care” — the euphemistic phrase for chemical castration and surgical sexual mutilation.
Flores-Britt has also promoted contraception for women as a means of securing their future. Her LinkedIn activity shows that she reposted a Gates Foundation post entitled “Contraception gives women control over their futures.” The Gates Foundation post promoted expanded access to contraception and argued that “contraceptive access is key to building economic power for women, families, and economies.”
Flores-Britt has also promoted employment with Planned Parenthood, reposting an advertisement for several positions that urged prospective employees to “Join the mission and apply online.” The post said the jobs would support Planned Parenthood’s mission to “protect and expand access to sexual and reproductive health care and education.”
In addition to promoting employment with Planned Parenthood, Flores-Britt is involved in training new employees for the abortion giant. In a recent July 2026 LinkedIn post, Daniel Cullen publicly thanked Flores-Britt by name for her guidance on his new job as general accounting intern in the Finance Department at Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
The public record of Flores-Britt’s Planned Parenthood employment, her enthusiastic announcement of that employment, and her promotion of abortion and contraception deserves serious scrutiny from Catholic religious superiors, bishops, investors, and lay faithful. At the very least, she should be removed from IASJ’s Board of Trustees.
Michelle Perez, Planned Parenthood Board Member
A second current IASJ board member, Michelle Perez, is on the board of Planned Parenthood Metropolitan New Jersey (PPMNJ), according to IASJ’s own biography of Perez.
PPMNJ’ official 2022 annual report similarly names Michelle Perez on its Board of Trustees.
In 2022, PPMNJ committed 2,070 surgical abortions, administered 5,711 birth control pills, and gave 65 transgender “hormone treatments,” according its annual report:
PPMNJ’s official 2023 annual report again lists Michelle Perez on its Board of Trustees.
The 2023 report boasts of defending and expanding abortion access and opposing restrictions on abortion.
PPMNJ’s IRS Form 990 records also identify Michelle Perez as a board member.
Thus, two members of IASJ’s governing board work directly in high level leadership roles within Planned Parenthood: one at the national level at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the other at the local level at Planned Parenthood Metropolitan New Jersey.
This raises the question for IASJ’s Catholic affiliates: Why are Planned Parenthood executives serving as board members of an organization through which Catholic religious communities conduct shareholder advocacy?
IASJ Catholic affiliates and history
The connection between IASJ and Planned Parenthood is particularly scandalous because IASJ has deep Catholic roots and continues to represent numerous Catholic religious communities.
IASJ was founded in 1975 by Catholic congregations as the Tri-State Coalition for Responsible Investment, which it describes as one of the first and largest such Catholic coalitions. In 2019, the organization transitioned to its current name and expanded its scope to include a broader interfaith community of Catholic and Protestant-affiliated investors.
According to IASJ’s “Get Involved” page, affiliate members pay dues to the organization:
Today, IASJ lists dozens of Catholic religious communities and institutions among its Affiliates and Engagement Clients. They include:
- the Congregation of Holy Cross,
- Congregation of Notre Dame,
- Dominican Sisters of Hope,
- Franciscan Sisters of Allegany,
- Franciscan Sisters of the Poor,
- Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart,
- Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers,
- Maryknoll Sisters,
- the Province of St. Mary of the Capuchin Order,
- the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary,
- the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany,
- School Sisters of Notre Dame,
- numerous communities of the Sisters of Charity,
- Dominican and Franciscan communities,
- several Sisters of St. Joseph communities,
- the Society of Jesus’ USA Northeast Province,
- and the Ursuline Sisters of the Roman Union.
Not only does the IASJ Affiliates list include dozens of Catholic religious communities, but three religious sisters serve on its board of trustees. Flores-Britt and Perez are listed alongside Sister Susan Francois of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, who is board chair; Sister Margaret Anderson of the Dominican Sisters of Hope; and Sister Ann Scholz of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
Given the Catholic background and mission of IASJ, it is highly scandalous that two members of its board would also be employed by the nation’s leading abortion giant.
IASJ donor groups also fund Planned Parenthood
Despite IASJ describing itself as a faith-based investor organization, it has received substantial support from major pro-abortion philanthropic foundations whose portfolios also include Planned Parenthood.
The Wallace Global Fund (WGF):
The 2020, 2022, and 2023 tax form 990 for WGF each show a $50,000 grant to IASJ, for a total of $150,00.
The same foundation also funded Planned Parenthood Keystone a total of $300,000 over the years 2020, 2022, and 2023. Each grant is recorded as earmarked for “support to advance and protect global reproductive health and rights.”
The Omidyar Network Fund also funded both IASJ and Planned Parenthood. Its grant records show:
- $40,000 to IASJ in 2023;
- a total of $20,000 to Planned Parenthood Federation of America between 2020 and 2023;
- and $2,000 to Planned Parenthood Southeast in 2020.
It is perhaps not coincidental that IASJ receives funds from organizations that simultaneously give grants to Planned Parenthood when two of its board members also serve on Planned Parenthood boards.
LGBT activism among IASJ personnel and affiliates
IASJ personnel and affiliates have also openly promoted LGBT ideology, some of its affiliates hosting pro-homosexual Fr. James Martin for a speaking event and supporting the indoctrination and chemical sterilization of schoolchildren through cross-sex hormones.
IASJ staff member Aaron Acosta, in a LinkedIn post, described participating in a UN business-and-human-rights forum that included a panel on so-called “gender-inclusive human-rights due diligence”.
Acosta’s LinkedIn profile lists IASJ.
Describing the UN’s 2025 Annual Forum on Business and Human Rights, held in Geneva, Switzerland, Acosta celebrated “the privilege of attending some very interesting panels, such as one on gender-inclusive human rights due diligence.”
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
The St. Paul Province of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, an IASJ affiliate, has an explicit LGBTQ activism page entitled “Celebrating Pride.” The congregation says it “celebrated” “Pride Month,” marched in Minneapolis, and expressed its continuing support for “LGBTQIA+ communities.”
Scandalously, the sisters stated: “While July marked the end of another Pride Month, our support continues. We invite you to accompany people in the LGBTQIA+ communities[.]”
Sr. Linda Taylor is featured as boasting about her “favorite moment at the Pride Parade” when “we all shout ‘HAPPY PRIDE’ to each other.”
Confirming that her religious community takes part in the “Pride Parade,” Sr. Taylor writes, “I am always so proud of our CSJ Community when we are at the parade.”
One of their links leads to an online guide, published by a group named Glisten, on how to push LGBT ideology on schoolchildren and establish LGBT advocacy groups in schools.
Sisters of St. Joseph U.S. Federation
The U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph is also explicitly pro-LGBT.
In 2023, they endorsed a statement supporting “Transgender Day of Visibility.” They promote pro-LGBT Sr. Jeannine Grammick, Fr. James Martin, New Ways Ministry, and blasphemous LGBT “prayer cards.”
The Sisters of St. Joseph also promote Fr. James Martin’s blasphemous comparison of “Pride Month” to Catholic devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus during the month of June. They additionally compiled a list of online LGBT “resources.”
Ursuline Sisters of the Roman Union
The U.S. Ursulines, another IASJ affiliate, have likewise published explicit support for LGBT activism. Their public statements page says that they support the pro-LGBT declaration titled “God Is On Your Side,” backed by 12 Catholic bishops regarding so-called “LGBT youth” and the Tyler Clementi Foundation activist group.
Leaning into victim rhetoric, they state: “we are called to welcome and defend those on the margins, especially those whom society rejects… LGBT youth are children of God, created by God, and loved by God. We stand in solidarity with them.”
Dominican Sisters of Sparkill
In 2023, the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, also an IASJ affiliate, hosted a pro-LGBT event featuring the notoriously pro-homosexual Jesuit priest Fr. James Martin as a guest speaker of the convent.
Fr. James Martin presented on his pro-LGBT book Building a Bridge. He is well known for his outspoken LGBT activism, which includes giving the sacrament of Confirmation and priestly “blessings” to homosexuals, encouraging homosexuals to kiss at the Sign of Peace during Mass, and calling for a change of The Catechism of the Catholic Church in its teaching on the grave sin of sodomy.
A pattern and indictment
The emerging pattern at IASJ thus shows the following:
- Its governing body is connected to Planned Parenthood.
- Its donor organizations are connected to Planned Parenthood.
- Its staff promotes LGBT ideology.
- Its affiliates promote LGBT ideology.
Two members of IASJ’s governing board hold executive positions within Planned Parenthood, covering both national and local levels: Sharon Flores-Britt is vice chair and treasurer of IASJ while working as assistant controller at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and Michelle Perez is on the IASJ board and also the Board of Planned Parenthood Metropolitan New Jersey.
Flores-Britt has additionally used her public LinkedIn activity to promote Planned Parenthood, its abortion activism, its #ImForPP campaign, and contraception. Perez is on the board of a Planned Parenthood affiliate that has worked to expand abortion access in New Jersey and opposed abortion restrictions.
The Wallace Global Fund donated to IASJ while also simultaneously granting Planned Parenthood Keystone hundreds of thousands for “support to advance and protect global reproductive health and rights.” The Omidyar Network Fund similarly funded both IASJ as well as Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Southeast.
Further, several IASJ Catholic affiliates have publicly supported LGBT ideology, including the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, and the Ursuline Sisters of the Roman Union, which have publicly expressed support for LGBT propaganda and indoctrination of children.
IASJ continues to represent dozens of Catholic religious communities and institutions through its affiliate network. Its connections to Planned Parenthood, both through its board members and its donor organizations, as well as its staff and affiliate support for LGBT ideology, make clear that IASJ can in no way rightly claim to represent the cause of Catholic social justice within investment advocacy.
Republished with permission from the Lepanto Institute