Religious organization, a new research center is born

Springing from the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, a new research center will focus on religious institutions, ecclesiastical property, and non-profit organizations. This new observatory is intended to be “a strategic element in promoting scientific research in an area crucial for the development of a caring and pluralist society,” explained Chancellor Giovanni Francesco Nicoletti during the initiative’s launch in Rome alongside UCEI Vice-president Giulio Disegni.
Representatives of religious communities discussed various themes, ranging from the full extent of the freedom of worship to some economic, fiscal, and tributary issues that sometimes lack legal clarity. “The observatory is science-based and aims to raise the awareness of legislators on themes of common interest,” remarked Disegni. He also traced the origins of the 1978 agreement between the Union of the Jewish Communities and the Italian State, and explained the key characteristics of the statute of Italian Judaism and of its 21 Communities.
One of the observatory’s goals, as the promoters highlighted, is to encourage the collaboration between scientific academic and non-academic organizations, research centers, and entrepreneurs to facilitate the collection and analysis of data on the impact of religious organization activities “on the market of goods and services,” with the aim of defining best practices in patrimony management and administration. Support and consulting service will be provided to achieve this goal.