OPERE CATTOLICHE COORDINATE ALL'AZIONE CATTOLICA ITALIANA. — Coordinated works are to be understood as those organizations which
OPERE CATTOLICHE COORDINATE ALL' A. C. I.
undertake to provide for the spiritual formation of their members and to extend the apostolate of Catholic Action to specifically defined purposes. They are “a particular field of activity for the members of Catholic Action” (Statute of A. C. I., art. 2), and constitute bridges of transition offered to those enrolled in A. C. I., enabling them to integrate their apostolic work into the living reality of practical and professional life. The bodies responsible for coordinating the activities of Catholic Action with those of the works coordinated with it are the Councils of each level established under ecclesiastical authority.
In particular, the Catholic Action Graduates’ Movement has promoted, in the professional sphere and in accordance with art. 91 of the Statute of A. C. I., the following professional unions, which remain connected with the Movement for activities common to all graduates.
I. ASSOCIATION OF ITALIAN CATHOLIC PHYSICIANS (A.M. C.I.). — Founded in 1945, it is based in Rome and publishes the monthly Orizzonte medico.
The purpose of the Association is: to foster religious and cultural formation and provide fraternal assistance among Italian physicians; to spread among physicians an awareness of the spirit informing their vocation and draw them closer to Christian practice and culture; to exert influence through professional representatives for the dignified practice of the medical art and for legislation consonant with the Italian Christian tradition.
The A.M.C.I. professes adherence to Italian Catholic Action. It consists of sections and a provincial district. The Association also seeks to secure the adherence of associations, academies, hospital organizations, institutes, schools, and publications, while respecting their respective characteristics and traditions.
There is a General Council at the Center, while each section has a governing council elected by the assembly of members. Alongside the lay officers, there is also a theological adviser.
II. ITALIAN CATHOLIC UNION OF SECONDARY-SCHOOL TEACHERS (U.C.I.I.M.). — 1. History. — It was founded in 1945, with its headquarters in Rome, and publishes the monthly journal: La scuola e l'uomo.
The aims of the U.C.I.I.M. are: a) to promote and implement the moral and professional formation of secondary-school teachers with regard to their educational mission; b) to promote and implement, in every expression of their work, principles and methods conforming to Christian thought and morality; c) to promote the participation of secondary-school teachers in trade-union life according to Christian social principles.
2. Activities of the U.C.I.I.M.: religious initiatives; lecture and lesson courses; studies of cultural, legislative, and educational topics; assistance to teachers and students; publications; libraries, etc.
3. Structure of the U.C.I.I.M.: a) congress; b) national president; c) national council; d) central council; e) provincial council; f) sections.
Its patron is St Thomas Aquinas.
III. UNION OF ITALIAN CATHOLIC JURISTS (U.G.C.I.). — Founded in 1945, it is headquartered in Rome and publishes the monthly periodical Iustitia. The purpose of the U.G.C.I. is to contribute to the implementation of the principles of Christian ethics in legal science, legislative, judicial, and administrative activity, and throughout public and professional life. In particular, it seeks to promote adequate specialized spiritual and cultural formation for jurists; to attend to related social interests; to draw attention to the problems of trade-union life; to assist institutions undertaking social initiatives inspired by Christianity; and to foster, also in public opinion, an awareness of the function of law in national and international society.
Structure of the U.G.C.I.: Assembly of delegates of the Unions; central council; central executive committee. Unions are established at every court seat.
IV. UNIONE CATTOLICA ITALIANA TECNICI (U.C.I.T.). – Founded in 1945, it is based in Rome and publishes the monthly periodical Tecnica e uomo. The purpose of the U.C.I.T. is to demonstrate, through the exercise of the profession inspired by the principles of Christian morality, how technology can be the principal instrument for overcoming indigence; to influence the proper formulation of social and economic problems through the spirit and methods of technology; to promote and implement the aforementioned purpose according to methods consistent with Christian thought and morality; to attend to the spiritual and cultural formation of its members, carrying out apostolic work among colleagues and seeking to develop in the best possible manner the concept of professional morality.
The U.C.I.T. groups together, in as many branches: engineers and architects; agricultural technicians (graduates in agricultural science, veterinarians, engineers, agronomists); doctors of chemistry; chartered accountants; company managers who do not practise a liberal profession.
Structure of the U.C.I.T. – Central governing council, the deliberative body; local sections; affiliated associations (associations, institutions, and companies may affiliate, as may individuals who pursue the same aim of affirming the principles of Christian morality in the sphere of work). Through the M.I.I.C. (Mouvement International des intellectuels catholiques) of Pax Romana, it participates in the Secretariat International des ingénieurs et cadres catholiques.
V. UNIONE CATTOLICA ARTISTI ITALIANI (U.C.A.I.). — Founded in 1947, it is based in Rome. The purpose of the U.C.A.I. is to promote the spiritual and moral elevation of artists in all the arts, in the sacred and secular spheres; to contribute to the strengthening and defense of Christian civilization in art; to enhance the role of art and artists in social life; to promote appropriate initiatives for advisory services and technical, professional, and financial assistance; to foster liaison and cooperation with other similar bodies; and to promote the participation of artists in trade-union life according to Christian social principles. In addition to artists, bodies pursuing analogous aims may also join, with the appointment of representatives having a purely consultative vote.
Structure of the U.C.A.I. The National Congress, composed of delegates from the sections, is the deliberative body. There are also the central council, the executive committee, and the local sections. Liaison among the artists is maintained through a newsletter in Coscienza, the organ of the Movimento laureati di Azione Cattolica.
VI. ITALIAN CATHOLIC PHARMACISTS’ UNION (U.C.F.I.). — Founded in 1945, it is based in Rome and publishes the monthly periodical Raphael. The aims of the U.C.F.I. are: the moral and cultural advancement of its associated pharmacists; sincere adherence to the dictates of professional ethics; the introduction into professional life of honest and conscientious members capable of influencing their colleagues; fraternal and professional assistance among pharmacists and toward pharmacy employees; and the practice of charity toward those in need among the public.
There are three categories of members: 1) full members, committed to implementing the principles stated above. They pay a fixed fee and receive the monthly Raphael; 2) active members, enrolled in Catholic Action and committed to the apostolate as well as to acceptance of the Union’s principles. They are also enrolled in the Movement of Graduates of Catholic Action; 3) adherents, without any binding obligation, who merely make known their adherence each year.
Structure of the U.C.F.I.: there is a national council, a central presidency, diocesan sections, and local groups. The commitments of the U.C.F.I. are contained in the Promise of the Catholic Pharmacist. It is affiliated with Pax Romana, the International Pharmacy Secretariat.
VII. CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATIONS OF ITALIAN WORKERS (A.C.L.I.) (v.).
VIII. ASSOCIAZIONE SCOUTISTA CATTOLICA ITALIANA (A.S.C.I.) — Esploratori d'Italia, V. ESPLORATORI CATTOLICI.
IX. ASSOCIAZIONE GUIDE ITALIANE (A.G.I.): V. GUIDE ITALIANE.
X. CENTRE FOR LIBRARIES FOR ALL (C.B.T.). — 1. Its function. — Promoted by the General Presidency of the A.C.I. together with the other national associations, it aims to encourage the creation of public libraries and to assist those already established, with particular attention to parish libraries, in order to make these centres for the dissemination of culture increasingly efficient through rational organization, timely notification, and the prompt supply of books.
159 OPERE CATT. COORD. ALL'A.C.I. — OPERE DIP. DALLE ASSOC. DELL'A.C.I. 160
The Centre bases its organization on the following bodies: presidency, national council, and working commissions.
The national council is composed of representatives of the founding institutions appointed for a three-year term by the institutions themselves. The Centre’s regional inspectors also participate in the work of the national council in an advisory capacity. The national council proposes the Centre’s broad lines of activity. It is convened at least twice a year. The Presidency consists of a president, an ecclesiastical assistant, who bears all responsibility for matters concerning the Centre’s specific formative and moral activities, a secretary, and a treasurer. The working commissions, made up of members of the national Council or also of outsiders possessing particular expertise in the various fields, may be permanent for the C.B.T.’s major sectors of activity, or established temporarily for particular initiatives.
In the regions, the Centre appoints regional inspectors. They have supervisory, research, and stimulating functions in the various localities. In the provinces, provincial centres are established, reproducing the organizational structure of the national centre, with a provincial council consisting of representatives of the founding institutions and a certain number of representatives of libraries in the various categories, together with a presidency and any necessary working commissions. The monthly Libri d'oggi serves as the C.B.T.’s organ of liaison with its local representatives and with the libraries.
2. Services of the Centre. — To achieve its general aims and fulfil its specific task of assisting the «Libraries for All», the Centre provides a series of services, some operating exclusively at the national centre and others also implemented at the provincial level. a) Cultural service. — At the Centre and in the provinces, it studies, promotes, and coordinates initiatives aimed at disseminating culture among the people and encouraging reflection on completed readings through meetings and discussions, as well as the establishment of «Universities for All» and «Spoken Newspapers». b) Bibliographical service. — This is the Centre’s fundamental service, inasmuch as it follows book production and evaluates it according to positive criteria. At the Centre, it maintains a large card catalogue of all publications and authors; it issues notices concerning material more readily accessible to the masses, defining its characteristics in terms of content, form, and ideology; it assists libraries that request the revision of lists and volumes; it keeps bibliographical lists up to date for the various categories of readers; and it prepares general and specialized book catalogues. c) Librarians’ service. — It provides training and moral assistance to the «librarians for all». It organizes elementary and advanced courses, both by correspondence and through short series of lessons in the various localities and at the centre. Above all, it ensures that the librarian can truly be the «pivot of the library»: counsellor and teacher to the library’s members. d) Technical service. — It prepares all the equipment required for the operation of the library and seeks to supply it at the most advantageous prices. It studies methods and regulations for the activities of the «Libraries for All». From the organizational and logistical standpoint, it implements the Centre’s various events. e) Assistance service. — It oversees the collection and distribution of funds and books for the «Libraries for All» in hospitals, prisons, and localities damaged by the war.
f) Book-distribution service. — This is carried out by ARCE (Anonima Romana Cattolica Editrice), with possible regional and provincial branches as well (corresponding bookshops, Centre sales outlets, etc.). It grants special discounts and payment facilities to affiliated «Libraries for All» and provides particular concessions for the organization of book-promotion events. It was founded in 1949. Its headquarters are in Rome. Publication: Libri d'oggi, a monthly information periodical.