OPERE ADERENTI ALL'AZIONE CATTOLICA ITALIANA. — These are Catholic bodies and institutions of an economic-social character. The statutes of Azione Cattolica Italiana, in art. 2, generally define them as “of social utility.” Their affiliation with Azione Cattolica Italiana takes place through the I.C.A.S. (Istituto cattolico di attività sociale [v.]).
I. CONFEDERAZIONE NAZIONALE COLTIVATORI DIRETTI
Established in 1946. It is inspired by Christian social principles and has the following aims: a) to safeguard the general interests of direct cultivators and agriculture, securing respect and recognition for the rights of labor in agricultural production, in relation to the other agricultural productive categories, the national economy as a whole, and the administrative and political authorities; b) to represent the federated associations and the category of direct cultivators at the national level in matters of a general nature concerning the entire category, in dealings with the political and administrative authorities and with the other trade-union and economic associations; c) to promote every initiative and, where appropriate, to carry out, either directly or through specially established bodies, every activity aimed at improving the condition of direct cultivators in the economic, technical, and social spheres, and at developing agriculture. Press: Il coltivatore (weekly).II. CHRISTIAN UNION OF ENTREPRENEURS AND MANAGERS
1. History. - After the Lombard Group of Catholic Business Managers was founded in Milan on 2 May 1945, the initiative spread to other regions of northern and central Italy. On 31 January 1947, the Christian Union of Entrepreneurs and Managers (U.C.I.D.) was established in Milan, with delegates present from the Lombard, Piedmontese, Ligurian, Emilian-Romagnolo, and Tuscan groups. On 16 May 1947, the U.C.I.D. was invited to join the National Associations of Patrons catholiques (U.N.I.A.-P.A.C.) on the occasion of their Eighth International Conference, held in Paris. In 1948, the Venetian and Roman groups were added; in October of the same year, the first National Congress took place in Venice. Two further congresses were held in the following years, 1949 and 1950.2. Aims. - These consist in presenting Christian social doctrine, developing professional morality, organizing enterprises on a Christian basis, and increasing the sense of shared responsibility as an indispensable foundation for the fairest and most effective collaboration among the true agents of production.
3. Structure. - The U.C.I.D. is composed of regionally based groups, each governed by a regional executive council and its own regulations adapted to the particular characteristics of the region. Two delegates from each group, in addition to the secretary, are members of the National Executive Council, which normally meets four times a year and whose activity is supplemented by a presidential committee. Publications: Operare, bimonthly; Responsabilità, monthly.
4. National associations that are members of the U.N.I.A.-P.A.C. - Belgium: Fédération des patrons catholiques (F.E.P.A.C.), in Brussels. Canada: Association professionnelle des industriels (A.P.I.), in Montreal. France: Centre français du patronat chrétien (C.F.P.C.), in Paris. England: Catholic Industrialists' Conference (C.I.C.), in Oxford. Italy: Christian Union of Entrepreneurs and Managers (U.C.I.D.), in Milan. Holland: Algemeene katholieke werkgevers vereniging (A.K.W.V.), in The Hague.
155 WORKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE A.C.I. - CATHOLIC WORKS COORDINATED WITH THE A.C.I. 156
III. NATIONAL CENTER OF THE ARTISANATE
On 20 October 1947, the Holy Father granted a special audience at the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo to the participants in the First National Congress of Christian Artisans. From that time, the National Center of the Artisanate may be said to have been definitively constituted. It arose under the auspices of the I.C.A.S. (Catholic Institute of Social Activity) and is defined in its Statutes as the Christian Association of Italian Artisans. Its purposes are: a) to promote the affirmation of Christian principles in the life, organization, and legislation of the artisan sector; b) to ensure the fullest and most effective participation of Italian artisans in trade-union life through suitable preparation; c) to provide moral, artistic, technical, and economic assistance to Italian artisans, outside and above every political and trade-union division.Its central bodies are: the National Congress, the National Council, and the Central Presidency. Its local bodies are: parish centers; municipal and district centers. Artisans are grouped according to national associations of arts and trades, whose presidents constitute the Central Committee of the Arts and Trades, which is entrusted with the study of technical problems. National Center: Rome. Press: Italia artigiana, monthly.
The National Center of the Artisanate (C.N.A.) is affiliated with the Italian Confederation of the Artisanate (C.I.A.), whose fortnightly organ is L'artigianato italiano.
IV. FAMILY FRONT
Founded on 25 March 1946, it aims to be much more than a secretariat for the family, its purpose being to protect and strengthen the family institution in accordance with the spiritual, juridical, and social traditions of the Italian people, adapted to the needs of the present age. The Front is above all an association of heads of families who share its guiding aims. Other family and para-family bodies may also join; the Front is increasingly moving toward inclusion within the framework of family associations in the broad sense and thus aspires to become the unified representative of the ethical-juridical and economic-social interests of Italian families before the central and local authorities.The Family Front was promoted, following careful studies and numerous requests received from various quarters, by the adult branches of Italian Catholic Action and continues to adhere to it while retaining autonomy of operation. The foundations of its doctrine and activity were established in an elaborate “Family Charter,” to which more than one million heads of families have subscribed by signing a special form.
Two national conferences have so far been held; the Front has taken part in various international congresses of European family specialists and has published several studies on family matters. Whenever necessary, it has intervened actively to stimulate and guide the action of the public authorities in protecting the family. The Front’s periodical is the fortnightly La famiglia italiana.
Presidency and central executive committee in Rome; provincial committees in every provincial capital and local committees in many municipalities. Delegations in the various regions.
V. CONFEDERAZIONE COOPERATIVA ITALIANA
The resurrection of the Confederation, due to the faith and work of the late Luigi Corazzin, dates from 15 May 1945, the anniversary of Rerum novarum.It brought together the forces of the Christian-inspired cooperative movement that had been dispersed by the Fascist regime. From its initial revival onward, it was reaffirmed that the Italian Cooperative Confederation (C.C.I.) is a national association representing, assisting, protecting, and supervising the cooperative movement. It is a free body, independent of every political party. It is composed of cooperative and mutual-aid bodies and their consortia, associated in each province in a single union, and in national federations.
The Confederation’s tasks were established as follows: a) the development, coordination, and regulation of the cooperative and mutual-aid move-
ment; b) the representation and moral and economic protection, in Italy and abroad, of cooperative and mutual-aid bodies and their members; c) the defense of the collective and individual interests of cooperation, as an instrument for transforming the social structure; d) the development of cooperative awareness, by fostering every initiative conducive to the moral elevation and technical training of cooperators; e) the preparation of workers for the acquisition of the means of production and exchange within the cooperative economy; f) the implementation and expansion, at the national level, of technical, legal, administrative, and economic assistance to cooperatives, their consortia, and mutual-aid bodies in general, including through supervision; g) the collection and processing of statistical data on cooperation; h) the exercise of every other function arising from laws, regulations, or acts of public authority.
The Confederation’s bodies are: a) the National Assembly of delegates of the unions; b) the National Council; c) the Executive Committee; d) the president; e) the secretary-general; f) the Board of Auditors; g) the Board of Arbitrators.
Peripheral bodies: a) Provincial Unions of Cooperatives and Mutual-aid Societies; b) International Federations. – Press organ: L'Italia cooperativa, a weekly.
The Italian Cooperative Confederation was legally recognized by decree of 12 Apr. 1948 of the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare. The Statute was approved by the National Assembly of delegates of the unions at its meeting of 22 Oct. 1949 and by the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare by decree of 11 Jan. 1950, published in the Gazzetta ufficiale della Repubblica, no. 22 of 27 Jan. 1950. At the end of Oct. 1950, the Confederation had 8650 affiliated cooperatives, of which: 2700 consumer cooperatives; 1537 production and labor cooperatives; 2300 agricultural cooperatives; 344 building cooperatives; 769 miscellaneous cooperatives. At the same date, there were 66 Provincial Unions and 5 National Federations. The Confederation established the « Casa della cooperazione », bringing back to life, in Borgo S. Spirito in Rome, the Palazzo degli Alicorni, where it established its headquarters.
The Confederation’s motto is: « Ut unum sint ».
The Federation of rural savings banks is also affiliated with the Italian Cooperative Confederation. The organization of these special mutual-aid bodies is legally recognized in the form of the Ente delle casse rurali, an autonomous body based in Rome.
VI. ASSOCIATION OF CATHOLIC CINEMA EXHIBITORS (A
C.E.C.). — Established in 1949 by the Catholic Cinema Centre (C. C. C.), it represents the material and moral interests of the category of exhibitors of Catholic cinemas, particularly in dealings with the State administration, public and private bodies, and trade-union organizations; provides its members with legal, administrative, and tax advice and assistance; promotes and facilitates every form of direct agreement; and regulates, in the common interest, relations with other exhibitors and with the private film industry.Press: it has a column in the C.C.C.’s monthly journal: Rivista del cinematografo.
VII. ORBIS FILM
Founded in 1944, it is a company for the production and distribution of documentaries and spectacular films with a religious-moral theme. It promotes the development of reduced-gauge film; it has begun its own distribution of reduced-gauge and standard-gauge films, on favorable terms, to parishes in particular need. Orbis also assists all Catholic cinemas and religious institutions through a technical office providing technical advice. On the occasion of the Holy Year, it also established a photographic laboratory, which likewise produces filmstrips for catechetical still projections.It also has a program under way for the production of 30 catechetical short films. Ernesto Talentino