WORKS AFFILIATED WITH ITALIAN CATHOLIC ACTION. - These are Catholic institutions and organizations with an economic-social character. The statutes of Italian Catholic Action, in article 2, define them generally as "of social utility." Their affiliation with Italian Catholic Action takes place through the I.C.A.S. (Catholic Institute of Social Activity [v.]).
I. NATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF DIRECT CULTIVATORS
Established in 1946. It is inspired by Christian social principles and aims to: a) safeguard the general interests of direct cultivators and agriculture, obtaining respect and enhancement for labor rights in agricultural production, in comparison with other agricultural production categories, the entire national economy, and administrative and political authorities; b) represent the federated associations and the category of direct cultivators at the national level on matters of general interest concerning the entire category, vis-à-vis political and administrative authorities and other labor and economic associations; c) promote every initiative and, if necessary, directly or through specific entities, engage in any activity aimed at improving the economic, technical, and social conditions of direct cultivators and at enhancing agriculture. Press: *Il coltivatore* (weekly).II. CHRISTIAN UNION OF ENTREPRENEURS AND MANAGERS
History. - On May 2, 1945, in Milan, the Lombard Group of Catholic business leaders took the initiative, which extended to other regions of northern and central Italy. On January 31, 1947, the Christian Union of Entrepreneurs and Managers (U.C.I.D.) was officially established in Milan, with delegates from the Lombard, Piedmontese, Ligurian, Emilia-Romagna, and Tuscan groups present. On May 16, 1947, the U.C.I.D. was invited to join the National Associations of Catholic Employers (U.N.I.A.-P.A.C.) during their VIII International Conference held in Paris. In 1948, the Venetian and Roman groups were added; in October of the same year, the first national congress was held in Venice. Two more congresses were held in the following years, 1949 and 1950.2. Objectives
These consist in applying Christian social doctrine, developing professional ethics, organizing enterprises on a Christian basis, and fostering a sense of co-responsibility as an indispensable foundation for the fairest and most effective collaboration among the true subjects of production.3. Structure
The U.C.I.D. is composed of regional base groups, each governed by a regional executive council and its own regulations tailored to the specific characteristics of the region. Two delegates from each group, in addition to the secretary, are part of the National Executive Council, which typically meets four times a year, and whose activities are supported by a presidium committee. Press: *Operare*, bimonthly; *Responsabilità*, monthly.4. National Member Associations of U.N.I.A.-P.A.C. - Belgium: *Fédération des patrons catholiques* (F.E.P.A.C.), Brussels. Canada: *Association professionnelle des industriels* (A.P.I.), Montreal. France: *Centre français du patronat chrétien* (C.F.P.C.), Paris. England: *Catholic industrialists' Conference* (C.I.C.), Oxford. Italy: *Unione cristiana imprenditori dirigenti* (U.C.I.D.), Milan. Netherlands: *Algemeene katholieke werkgevers vereniging* (A.K.W.V.), The Hague.
III. NATIONAL CRAFTSMEN’S CENTER
On October 20, 1947, the Holy Father granted a special audience at the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo to participants in the national congress of Christian craftsmen. From that point onward, the National Craftsmen’s Center can be considered definitively established. 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 Craftsmen. Its aims are: a) to promote the affirmation of Christian principles in the life, organization, and legislation of craftsmen; b) to ensure the fullest and most effective participation of Italian craftsmen in labor union life through adequate preparation; c) to provide moral, artistic, technical, and economic assistance to Italian craftsmen, beyond and above any political-union divisions.Central bodies are: the National Congress, the National Council, and the Central Presidency. Peripheral bodies: parish centers; municipal and district centers. Craftsmen are grouped according to national associations of arts and trades, whose presidents form the Central Committee of Arts and Trades, which is responsible for studying technical problems. National Center: Rome. Press: *Italia artigiana*, monthly.
The National Craftsmen’s Center (C.N.A.) is affiliated with the Italian Confederation of Craftsmen (C.I.A.), whose biweekly organ is *L’artigianato italiano*.
IV. FAMILY FRONT
Founded on March 25, 1946, it aims to be much more than a secretariat for the family, seeking to protect and strengthen the family institution in accordance with the spiritual, legal, and social traditions of the Italian people, adapted to the needs of the present era. The Front is primarily a grouping of family heads who share its inspirational goals. Other family and para-family entities may also join; the Front is increasingly aligning itself within the broader framework of family associations and aspires to become the unified representative of the ethical-legal and socio-economic interests of Italian families before central and local authorities.The Family Front was promoted, following mutual studies and numerous requests from various quarters, by the adult branches of Italian Catholic Action and continues to function as an autonomous body. The foundations of its doctrine and action were laid out in an elaborate "Charter of the Family," to which over a million family heads have subscribed by signing a special form.
Two national conventions have been held to date; the Front has participated in various international congresses of European family experts and has published several studies on family matters. When necessary, it has actively intervened to stimulate and guide the actions of public authorities in defense of the family. The organ of the Front is the biweekly *La famiglia italiana*.
Headquarters and central steering committee in Rome, provincial committees in every regional capital, and local committees in many municipalities. Delegations in various zones.
V. ITALIAN COOPERATIVE CONFEDERATION
The founding of the Confederation, due to the faith and work of the late Luigi Corazzin, took place on May 15, 1945, the anniversary of *Rerum Novarum*.It brought together the forces of Christian-inspired cooperation that had been dispersed during the Fascist regime. From its very inception, it was confirmed that the Italian Cooperative Confederation (C.C.I.) is a national association for representation, assistance, protection, and oversight of the cooperative movement. It is a free organization, independent of any political party. It is composed of cooperative and mutual aid entities and their consortia, which are associated in each province within a single union and in national federations.
### Tasks of the Confederation
The following tasks of the Confederation were established:
a) the development, coordination, and regulation of the cooperative and mutual aid movement;
b) the representation and moral and economic protection in Italy and abroad of cooperative and mutual aid entities and their associates;
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, fostering all initiatives aimed at the moral elevation and technical training of cooperators;
e) the preparation of workers for the acquisition of the instruments of production and exchange within the cooperative economy;
f) the implementation and promotion, on a national level, of technical, legal, administrative, and economic assistance to cooperatives, their consortia, and mutual aid entities in general, including through auditing;
g) the collection and processing of statistical data on cooperation;
h) the exercise of any other functions deriving from laws, regulations, or directives of public authorities.
### Confederate Organs
The confederate organs are:
a) the National Assembly of delegates from 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 Provvigioni.
### Peripheral Organs
Peripheral organs include:
a) Provincial Unions of Cooperatives and Mutual Aid Societies;
b) International Federations.
### Press Organs
Press organs include: *L’Italia Cooperativa*, a weekly publication.
The Italian Cooperative Confederation was legally recognized by a decree of the Minister of Labor and Social Security on April 12, 1948. The Statute was approved by the National Assembly of delegates from unions on October 22, 1949, and by the Minister of Labor and Social Security through a decree dated January 11, 1950, published in the *Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica*, no. 22, of January 27, 1950. By the end of October 1950, the Confederation had 8,650 affiliated cooperatives, including: 2,700 consumer cooperatives; 1,537 production and labor cooperatives; 2,300 agricultural cooperatives; 344 building cooperatives; and 769 miscellaneous cooperatives. There were 66 provincial unions and 5 national federations at the same date. The Confederation established the "House of Cooperation" by restoring the Palazzo degli Alcorni in Rome’s Borgo S. Spirito, where it established its headquarters.
The motto of the Confederation is: *"Un unum sint."*
The Italian Cooperative Confederation also includes the Federation of Rural Banks. The organization of these special mutual aid entities is legally recognized in the form of the *Ente delle Casse Rurali*, an autonomous body headquartered in Rome.
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VI. ASSOCIAZIONE CATTOLICA ESERCENTI CINEMA (A.C.E.C.)
Established in 1949 by the Centro Cattolico Cinematografico (C.C.C.), it represents the material and moral interests of Catholic cinema exhibitors, particularly in relation to state administration, public and private entities, and labor organizations. It provides its members with legal, administrative, and tax advisory and assistance services, promotes and facilitates direct agreements, and regulates relationships with other exhibitors and the private film industry in the common interest.
**Press:** It has a column in the C.C.C.’s monthly publication, *Rivista del Cinematografo*.
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VII. ORBIS FILM
Founded in 1944, Orbis Film is a company specializing in the production and distribution of documentaries and feature films with religious and moral themes. It promotes the development of reduced-format films, having initiated its own distribution of reduced-format and standard-format films to parishes in need at favorable terms. Orbis also assists Catholic cinema halls and religious entities through a technical office for technical consulting. During the Holy Year, it established a photographic laboratory, which also serves for the production of small films for fixed catechetical projections.
It is currently working on a program to produce 30 catechetical short films.