CATHOLIC WORKS COORDINATED WITH ITALIAN CATHOLIC ACTION. — Those institutions are to be understood as coordinated works which aim to foster the spiritual formation of their members and to extend the apostolate of Catholic Action to specifically determined purposes. They are «a particular field of activity for the members of Catholic Action» (Statute of Italian Catholic Action, art. 2), and constitute bridges offered to those enrolled in Italian Catholic Action to integrate their apostolic work into the living context of practical and professional life. The bodies responsible for linking the activities of Catholic Action with those of the coordinated works are the Consultative Councils at every level, established in connection with ecclesiastical authority.
In particular, the University Graduates’ Movement of Catholic Action has promoted, within the professional sphere in accordance with article 91 of the Statute of Italian Catholic Action, the following professional unions, which remain linked to the Movement for activities common to all graduates.
I. ASSOCIAZIONE MEDICI CATTOLICI ITALIANI (A.M.C.I.). — Founded in 1945, it has its seat in Rome and publishes the monthly *Orizzonte medico*.
The purpose of the Association is: to cultivate religious and cultural formation and to provide fraternal assistance among Italian physicians; to spread among doctors the spirit that informs their vocation and to bring them closer to Christian practice and culture; to exert professional representation so as to ensure a worthy exercise of the medical art and legislation in keeping with the Italian Christian tradition.
The A.M.C.I. professes adherence to Italian Catholic Action. It consists of sections and provincial districts. The Association also seeks to enlist the adherence of associations, academies, hospital institutions, institutes, schools, and publications, respecting their respective characteristics and traditions.
There is a General Council at the Centre, while each section has a governing board elected by the assembly of members. Alongside the lay leaders, there is also a theological consultant.
II. UNIONE CATTOLICA ITALIANA INSEGNANTI MEDI (U.C.I.I.M.). — Founded in 1945, it has its seat in Rome and publishes the monthly *Lascuola 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 in relation to their educational mission; b) to promote and implement, in all expressions of their work, principles and methods in conformity with Christian thought and morality; c) to promote the participation of secondary school teachers in trade union life in accordance with Christian social principles.
2. Activities of the U.C.I.I.M.: religious initiatives; lecture and lesson courses; studies on cultural, legislative, and didactic 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.
The patron is St. Thomas Aquinas.
III. UNIONE GIURISTI CATTOLICI ITALIANI (U.G.C.I.). — Founded in 1945, it has its seat in Rome and publishes the monthly periodical *Iustitia*. The purpose of the U.G.C.I. is to contribute to the realization of the principles of Christian ethics in legal science, legislative, judicial, and administrative activity, and throughout public and professional life. In particular, it aims to promote an adequate spiritual and cultural preparation of jurists; to safeguard social interests connected therewith; to draw attention to problems of trade union life; to provide assistance to social initiatives inspired by Christian principles; and to foster public awareness of the rights of national and international society.
Structure of the U.G.C.I.: Assembly of delegates from the Unions; central council; central executive committee. Unions are established in every seat of a tribunal.
IV. UNIONE CATTOLICA ITALIANA TECNICI (U.C.I.T.). — Founded in 1945, it has its seat in Rome and publishes the monthly periodical *Tecnica e uomo*. The purpose of the U.C.I.T. is to bear witness, through the exercise of the profession inspired by the principles of Christian morality, to how technique can be the principal instrument for overcoming poverty; to influence, through the spirit and method of technique, the just formulation of social and economic problems; to promote and implement the above aims in accordance with methods conforming to Christian thought and morality; to attend to the spiritual and cultural preparation of members, carrying out apostolic work among colleagues and striving to develop the concept of professional morality in the best possible way.
The U.C.I.T. is organized into branches for: engineers and architects; agricultural technicians (doctors of agriculture, veterinarians, engineers, agronomists); doctors of chemistry; chartered accountants; managers of companies not engaged in the liberal professions.
Structure of the U.C.I.T.: Central governing board, deliberative body; local sections; affiliated associations (associations, bodies, companies, as well as individuals who pursue the same aim of affirming the principles of Christian morality in the field of work may adhere). 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 1945, it has its seat in Rome. The purpose of the U.C.A.I. is to promote the spiritual and moral elevation of artists in all fields, both sacred and profane; to contribute to the strengthening and defense of Christian civilization in art; to enhance the social role of art and artists; to promote appropriate initiatives for technical, professional, and economic consultation and assistance; to foster coordination and understanding with similar bodies; to promote the participation of artists in trade union life in accordance with Christian social principles. In addition to artists, bodies with similar aims may also adhere, with representation having only a consultative vote.
Structure of the U.C.A.I.: The national congress, composed of delegates from the sections, is the deliberative body. There is also a central council, an executive committee, and local sections. The connection among artists is maintained through a newsletter in *Coscienza*, the organ of the University Graduates’ Movement of Catholic Action.
VI. UNIONE CATTOLICA FARMACISTI ITALIANI (U.C.I.F.I.). — Founded in 1945, it has its seat in Rome and publishes the monthly periodical *Raphael*. The aims of the U.C.I.F.I. are: the moral and cultural improvement of member pharmacists; sincere adherence to the precepts of professional ethics; the integration of professional life with elements of example and influence among colleagues; fraternal and professional assistance among pharmacists and towards employees of pharmacies; and the exercise of charity towards public need.
There are three categories of members: 1) *effettivi* (full members), who commit to realizing the aforementioned aims. They pay a fixed fee and receive the monthly *Raphael*; 2) *attivi* (active members), who are enrolled in Catholic Action with an apostolic commitment in addition to accepting the principles of the Union. They are also enrolled in the University Graduates’ Movement of Catholic Action; 3) *ademetti* (associate members), who have no binding commitment and merely notify their adherence each year.
Structure of the U.C.I.F.I.: a national council, a central presidency, diocesan sections, and local groups. The commitments of the U.C.I.F.I. are set out in the *Professione del farmacista cattolico* [Profession of the Catholic Pharmacist]. It adheres to *Pax Romana*, the international secretariat of pharmacy.
VII. ASSOCIAZIONI CRISTIANE DEI LAVORATORI ITALIANI (A.C.L.I.) (see).
VIII. ASSOCIAZIONE SCOUTISTA CATTOLICA ITALIANA (A.S.C.I.) — Esploratori d’Italia, see *ESPLORATORI CATTOLICI*.
IX. ASSOCIAZIONE GUIDE ITALIANE (A.G.I.): see *GUIDE ITALIANE*.
X. CENTRE FOR LIBRARIES FOR ALL (C.B.T.)
### Its Function
Promoted by the General Presidency of the Italian Catholic Action (A.C.I.) together with other national associations, the Centre aims to encourage the establishment of popular libraries and to assist those already founded, with particular attention to parish libraries, in order to make these centres of cultural dissemination ever more efficient through rational organization and timely provision of books. The Centre’s structure is based on the following bodies: presidency, national consultative council, and working commissions.
The national consultative council is composed of representatives of the founding institutions, appointed for a three-year term by those institutions themselves. Regional inspectors of the Centre also participate in an advisory capacity in the work of the national consultative council. The council proposes the broad lines of the Centre’s work and is convened at least twice a year. The Presidency consists of a president, an ecclesiastical assistant (who bears all responsibility for matters relating to the Centre’s formative and moral activities), a secretary, and a treasurer. The working commissions, made up of members of the national council or even of outsiders who may participate in the Centre, are always present for the major sectors of the C.B.T.’s activity or are set up temporarily for specific initiatives.
In the regions, the Centre appoints regional inspectors, who have supervisory, study, and promotional functions in the various localities. In the provinces, provincial centres are established, replicating the organizational structure of the national centre, with a provincial council composed of representatives of the founding institutions and a certain number of representatives of libraries of various categories, along with a presidency and possible working commissions. The monthly *Libri d’oggi* serves as the liaison organ between the C.B.T. and its local representatives and libraries.
### 2. Services of the Centre
To achieve its general aims and its specific task of assisting Libraries for All, the Centre provides a series of services, some of which are carried out exclusively at the national level and others at both the provincial and national levels.
a) **Cultural Service** – At both the national and provincial levels, it studies, promotes, and coordinates initiatives aimed at fostering popular culture, reflection on reading through meetings and discussions, the establishment of “Universities for All,” and spoken newspapers.
b) **Bibliographical Service** – This is the Centre’s fundamental service, as it monitors and evaluates book production according to positive criteria. It maintains a large card index of all publications and authors at the national level, issues recommendations on materials most accessible to the masses, defining them by content, form, and ideology; assists libraries requesting reviews of lists and volumes; keeps up-to-date bibliographical lists for various categories of readers; and prepares general and specialized library catalogues.
c) **Librarian Service** – It provides training and moral support for librarians. It conducts elementary and advanced courses, both by correspondence and through short-term lessons in various locations and at the national centre. Its chief aim is to ensure that the librarian can truly be the “door” of the library: an advisor and teacher to those who use II.
d) **Technical Service** – It safeguards the equipment necessary for the functioning of the library and endeavours to supply it at the most advantageous prices. It studies methods and regulations for the activities of Libraries for All and organizes the Centre’s various initiatives from an organizational and logistical standpoint.
e) **Assistance Service** – It collects and distributes funds and books for the “Libraries for All” in hospitals, prisons, and areas devastated by war.
f) **Book Distribution Service** – This is carried out by the A.R.O.E. (Roman Catholic Publishing Anonymous Society), with possible regional and provincial branches (agents and correspondents, Centre bookshops, etc.). It offers special discount and payment facilities to affiliated “Libraries for All” and provides particular concessions for organizing book promotion events. Founded in 1949, it is based in Rome and publishes *Libri d’oggi*, a monthly information periodical.
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