Catholic Works Coordinated with Italian Catholic Action

CATHOLIC WORKS COORDINATED WITH CATHOLIC ACTION ITALY. - Those bodies are to be understood as coordinated works which

CATHOLIC WORKS COORDINATED WITH I. CATHOLIC WORKS COORDINATED WITH ITALIAN CATHOLIC ACTION A.

set out to attend to the spiritual formation of their own 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 I. C. A., art. 2), and constitute bridges offered to those enrolled in the I. C. A. so as to insert their apostolic work into the living fabric of practical and professional life. The bodies for linking the activities of Catholic Action with those of the works coordinated with it are the Consulte at every level, established under the ecclesiastical authority.

In particular, the Graduates' Movement of Catholic Action has promoted in the professional field, in accordance with art. 91 of the Statute of I. C. A., the following Professional Unions, which remain linked to the Movement for the activities common to all graduates.

I. ITALIAN CATHOLIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (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 physicians the spirit that informs their vocation and to bring them closer to Christian practice and culture; to exert influence through professional representatives for a worthy exercise 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 circumscription. The Association also seeks to gather the adherence of associations, academies, hospital bodies, institutes, schools and publications, while respecting their mutual characteristics and traditions.

There is a General Council at the Center, while each section has a directing Council elected by the assembly of members. Alongside the lay leaders there is also a consultant theologian.

II. CATHOLIC UNION OF ITALIAN SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS (U.C.I.I.M.)

1. History

It arose in 1945 with its seat in Rome and publishes the monthly magazine: La scuola e l'uomo.

The aims of the U.C.I.I.M. are: a) to promote and carry out the moral and professional formation of secondary school teachers with regard to their educational mission; b) to promote and carry out in all the expressions 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; courses of conferences and lectures; studies of cultural, legislative and didactic subjects; 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. ITALIAN CATHOLIC JURISTS UNION (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 implementation of the principles of Christian ethics in juridical science, in legislative, judicial and administrative activity, and in the whole of public and professional life. In particular, it intends to promote an adequate specific spiritual and cultural preparation of jurists; to look after the social interests connected with this; to draw attention to the problems of trade-union life; to lend assistance to institutions of social initiatives of Christian inspiration; and to bring about, 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 the delegates of the Unions; central council; central executive committee. The Unions arise in every seat of a tribunal.

IV. CATHOLIC UNION OF ITALIAN TECHNICIANS (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 technology can be the principal instrument for overcoming destitution; to influence, with the spirit and method of technology, the just framing of social and economic problems; to promote and carry out the aforementioned aim according to methods conforming to Christian thought and morality; to attend to the spiritual and cultural preparation of its members, carrying out among colleagues a work of apostolate, orienting themselves toward developing in the best way the concept of professional morality.

The U.C.I.T. groups its members into as many branches: engineers and architects; agricultural technicians (graduates in agriculture, veterinarians, engineers, agronomists); graduates in chemistry; chartered accountants; managers of firms who do not practice a liberal profession.

Structure of the U.C.I.T. - Central directing council, deliberative body; local sections; affiliated associations (associations, bodies, firms may join, as well as persons who pursue the same aim of affirming the principles of Christian morality in the field 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. CATHOLIC UNION OF ITALIAN ARTISTS (U.C.A.I.)

Founded in 1947, it has its seat in Rome. The purpose of the U.C.A.I. is to promote the spiritual and moral elevation of artists of all the arts in the sacred and profane field; to contribute to the strengthening and defense of Christian civilization in art; to enhance art and artists in social life; to promote appropriate initiatives of consultation and of technical, professional and economic assistance; to foster connection and understanding with other similar bodies; to promote the participation of artists in trade-union life according to Christian social principles. In addition to artists, bodies that set themselves similar goals may also join, by designating representatives with a purely consultative vote.

Structure of the U.C.A.I. The national Congress, made up of delegates from the sections, is the deliberative body. There also exist the central council, the executive committee and the local sections. The connection among artists is brought about by means of a newsletter in Coscienza, the organ of the Movimento laureati di Azione Cattolica.

VI. CATHOLIC UNION OF ITALIAN PHARMACISTS (U.C.F.I.)

Founded in 1945, it has its seat in Rome and publishes the monthly periodical Raphael. The aims of the U.C.F.I. are: the moral and cultural improvement of the associated pharmacists; sincere adherence to the dictates of professional deontology; the integration into professional life of honest and conscientious individuals capable of influencing their colleagues; fraternal and professional assistance among pharmacists and toward pharmacy employees; the exercise of charity toward the needy public.

There are three categories of members: 1) full members, committed to realizing the aforementioned goals. They pay a fixed fee and receive the monthly Raphael; 2) active members, enrolled in Catholic Action with an apostolic commitment as well as acceptance of the Union's principles. They are also enrolled in the Movement of Catholic Action Graduates; 3) adherents, without any binding obligation, they 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 adheres to Pax Romana, the International Secretariat of Pharmacy.

VII. CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATIONS OF ITALIAN WORKERS (A.C.L.I.) (v.).

VIII. ITALIAN CATHOLIC SCOUT ASSOCIATION (A.S.C.I.)

Scouts of Italy, v. ESPLORATORI CATTOLICI.

IX. ITALIAN GUIDE ASSOCIATION (A.G.I.): v. GUIDE ITALIANE.

X. CENTER 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 popular libraries and to assist those already founded, with particular regard to parish libraries, in order to make these centers of cultural diffusion ever more efficient through a rational organization and a timely reporting and prompt replenishment of books. The center bases its own organization on the following bodies: presidency, national council, working commissions.

The national council is composed of the representatives of the founding institutions designated for a three-year term by the institutions themselves. The regional inspectors of the Center also participate in the work of the national council in a consultative capacity. The national council proposes the broad lines of the Center's work. It is convened at least twice a year. The Presidency is composed of a president, an ecclesiastical assistant, who is responsible for everything pertaining to the Center's specific formative-moral activities, a secretary and a treasurer. The working commissions, made up of members of the National Council or also of outsiders who possess particular competence in the various subjects, may be permanent for the major sectors of action of the C.B.T. or arranged temporarily for particular initiatives.

In the regions the Center appoints regional inspectors. They have functions of supervision, study and stimulus in the various localities. In the provinces, provincial centers are established, reproducing the organizational scheme of the national center, with the provincial council made up of the representatives of the founding institutions and of a certain number of representatives of libraries of the various categories, with a presidency and with possible working commissions. The monthly Libri d'oggi serves as the organ of connection between the C.B.T. and its peripheral representatives and the libraries.

2. Services of the Center

For the realization of its general aims and for the specific task of assisting the "Libraries for all," the Center carries out a series of services, some of which operate exclusively at the national center and others with implementation also at the provincial level. a) Cultural service. - At the Center and in the provinces it studies, promotes and coordinates initiatives aimed at spreading culture among the people, reflection on the readings carried out, by means of meetings and discussions, the institutions of "Universities for all" and "Spoken newspapers." b) Bibliographical service. - It is the fundamental service of the Center, as the one that follows book production and evaluates it according to positive criteria. At the Center it maintains a large card index of all production and of authors, issues reports on material more easily accessible to the masses, defining it in its characteristics of content, form and ideology; carries out assistance to libraries that request revisions of lists and volumes; keeps bibliographical lists up to date for the various categories of readers; prepares general and particular book catalogues. c) Librarians' service. - It oversees the training and moral assistance of "librarians for all." It carries out elementary and advanced courses, both by correspondence and with short series of lessons in the various localities and at the center. It ensures above all that the librarian can truly be the "pivot of the library"; counselor and teacher of the members of the library itself. d) Technical service. - It prepares all the equipment for the functioning of the library and endeavors to supply it at the most convenient prices. It studies methods and regulations for the activities of the "Libraries for all." From the organizational and logistical point of view it carries out the various events of the Center. e) Assistance service. - It oversees the collection and distribution of funds and volumes for the "Libraries for all" of hospitals, prisons, and localities stricken by war.

f) Book distribution service. - It is carried out by ARCE (Anonima Romana Cattolica Editrice) with possible branches also at the regional and provincial level (corresponding bookshops, sales outlets of the Center, etc.). It reserves particular facilities for discounts and payment to the associated "Libraries for all" and provides particular concessions for the realization of book propaganda events. It was founded in 1949. It has its seat in Rome. Publication: Libri d'oggi, monthly information periodical.

Ernesto Talentino