THE VALUE OF CARITA' POLITICA 

On 7th January 1995 a meeting with politicians and local administrators was held in the Town Council hall of San Benedetto del Tronto to reflect on the value of political charity. Speakers were the diocesan Bishop Mons. Giuseppe Chiaretti and Father Joseph Joblin, professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

FAITH AND REASON

On 27th January 1995 at the Pontifical Antonianum University in Rome the usual meeting with experts in politics was held, with the aim of promoting social and political change, especially in the light of the Magisterium of the Church. Among those present were Mons. Giuseppe Molinari, Bishop of Rieti and Father Antonio Merino, Dean of the Antonianum. "Faith and reason" was the theme of the meeting during which the first issue ALREADY AND NOT YET was discussed. The magazine responds first of all to the need to inform, through the reports of the various speeches, those who were unable to attend the meeting.

INTERNATIONAL AND SPECIALISATION MASTER IN SOCIAL TEACHING OF THE CHURCH

On 1st March 1995 the first international and specialisation master in Social Teaching of the Church was launched. The keynote speeches were given by Cardinal Pio Laghi, Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, Father Hermann Schäluck, Minister General of the Friars Minor, and Dr. Pedro Lopez Aguirrebengoa, Spanish Ambassador to the Holy See. The Master is for candidates who wish to deepen their knowledge of the Christian social heritage and who are committed to political activity. The participants, with a limited number and without distinction of religious denomination, are chosen and delegated expressly by their respective Governments, through the contacts of the Political Charity Association. The Opening was made to coincide with Ash Wednesday to launch the proposal to live this day, so pivotal in the liturgical year, also as a Day of Political Charity. During the Master (27th February-31st March) 3 public meetings were held. The first, on 15th March, between the participants of the Master and the main representatives of all Italian political groups. The second, on 17th March, addressed the theme of justice, with the participation of magistrates Gherardo Colombo and Piercamillo Davigo. The third, on 22nd March, focused on federalism and autonomy.

RELIGION, SOCIAL COMMITMENT AND MASS MEDIA ETHICS

On 7th June 1995, in Rome, in Sala degli Arazzi of RAI, a study meeting on Religion, social commitment and mass media ethics took place. A large number of media workers and representatives of the different religious denominations were present. Among the speakers were: Mons. Giuseppe Molinari; Letizia Moratti, RAI President; Roberto Giannatelli, professor of social communication sciences at the Salesian Pontifical University; Giorgio Bouchard, President of the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy; Carlos Soria, professor at St. Thomas University in Rome; Enrique Colom, professor at Santa Croce University. The problem of media ethics is becoming more and more present in the cultural debate of modern society. The themes of religious presence and social commitment are particularly important. This meeting was held in order to contribute to raising the awareness of information workers and public opinion on these issues.

CRAFT BUSINESS IN THE FREE MARKET

From the 5th to the 7th of October the Sixth International Week of Social Doctrine of the Church takes place in Rome at the headquarters of Confartigianato (Federation of artisans). The choice of the theme "Craft business in the free market" was needed to come to light the role that these enterprises play in today's technological society on a social and political level. The speakers were: Cardinal Vincenzo Faggiolo, Mons. Giuseppe Molinari, Father Gino Concetti, Author of the daily newspaper Osservatore Romano; Ivano Spalanzani, President of Confartigianato; Enrique Colom, Lecturer at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross; Matteo Carioli, Lecturer at Luiss University; Giancarlo Antinori, General Manager of Nalco-Italy; Mario Pozza, Provincial President of Confartigianato Odontotecnici; Anna Panozza, National President of Confartigianato Donne Impresa; Lucia de Lapi, National Vice-President of Confartigianato Donne Impresa; Amos Ciabattoni, Board Member of Artigiancassa; Gino Tomadini, Entrepreneur; Father Jordàn Gallego, Lecturer at the Theological Faculty of Valenza-Spain; Father Carlos Soria, Lecturer at the Pontifical University of S. Thomas. These have been days of intense debate, during which a wide-ranging and complex issue was addressed: the employment crisis and the experiences of solidarity, new technologies, the problems of young people and women who cannot find work, the teaching of the Church and the documents of the popes. Will there still be a place in the society of the year 2000 for craft enterprises and, more generally, for small businesses? The conference tried to give an answer to this question. All the reports, supported by experts and university professors and focused on the current socio-economic context with a view to the future, underlined the pivotal role that the craft business must play also in the innovative technological development and within the growing trend towards a great industrial and financial concentration. The Church, in particular, with John XXIII and John Paul II, has constantly reaffirmed the value and importance of the craft industry as a place of work but also of humanisation. The week's credit was to have offered a careful reading of the documents of the Church's social magisterium on the craft enterprise and to have laid the foundations for its further development in the technological society of the next millennium. Finally, it should be pointed out that this week had a twofold aspect: one doctrinal with an in-depth examination of the issues in the light of the Social Teaching of the Church, the other practical, in which testimonies from artisans were presented for showing their work and the successes achieved. This is how a new methodology begins for the POLITICAL CHARITY Association.

CHRISTIAN ETHIC AND SERVICE STATE

On the 26th October 1995 a national meeting on justice was held in the Lecture Hall of the Pontifical Gregorian University. Christian charity in its social and political manifestation realizes through a commitment to the service of the community. This commitment takes different forms in different professional activities. This conference on Christian Ethics and Service State is dedicated to the exploration of the values that are common in all people working in the world of justice. Participants were: Bishop Giuseppe Molinari; Lawyer Angelo Schiano ;Mario Cicala, Vice-President of the National Association of Magistrates; Gherardo Colombo, Magistrate; Giancarlo Caselli, Counselor in Palermo; Lawyer Roberto Aloisio; Lawyer Gianni Maria Flick; Father Joseph Joblin, Lecturer at the Gregorian University.

CHARITY GOSPEL FOR A NEW SOCIETY IN ITALY

From 20th to 24th November 1995 the 3rd National Ecclesial Convention "The Gospel of Charity for a New Society in Italy" was held in Palermo. The involvement of the Association of Political Charity is characterised by the contribution of five testimony letters. For over 1 year at the Pontifical Gregorian University, the Association has been meeting every month the steering committee of the respective working sections. Result of these meetings are the "five testimony letters". They are a contribution to this great ecclesiastical event and represent proposals and commitments of those who with honest conscience look with hope to ethical values.

- Letter SOCIAL AND POLITICAL COMMITMENT signed by the Honourables Gianni Mattioli, Francesco D'Onofrio, Guglielmo Rositani, Franco Bassanini, Gianni Rivera.

- Letter ECONOMY AND WORK signed by Dr. Ivano Spalanzani, Prof. Matteo Carioli.

- Letter BUILDING LEGALITY signed by Dr. Mario Cicala, Law. Giovanni Maria Flick.

- Letter from the President of RAI, Dr. Letizia Brichetto Moratti.

• Letter from Enzo Agostini, President of the Associazione Carità Politica of Piceno.