On Tuesday, 21 April 2026 at 6:00 p.m., at its headquarters in Via Francesco Negri 67/69 in Rome, UAAR will present the first results of its analysis of the public costs of the Jubilee. “While the Vatican is planning a new Holy Year for 2033,” says Roberto Grendene, secretary of the Union of Rationalist Atheists and Agnostics, “UAAR has chosen to fund a research grant at the University of Florence to analyse, in a scientific and impartial manner, the economic,… Read more »
Respect for the law no longer gives way to religious customs in Chiusi (Siena)
The school board of the “Graziano da Chiusi” comprehensive institute, in the town of the same name in the Siena province, had authorized a full-fledged tour of blessings by the parish priest during class hours. The UAAR sent a formal cease-and-desist notice to the school principal, flagging the blatant violation of the law. The institute was forced to backtrack and revoke the resolution. It took a formal cease-and-desist from the UAAR before school principal Daria Moscillo finally enforced the law… Read more »
8×1000 State Funds: New Record for Natural Disasters Category
Funds available to finance municipal land protection projects have reached over €24.6 million. The Presidency of the Council of Ministers yesterday released data on the allocation of the 8×1000 share of personal income tax (IRPEF) directly managed by the State for the year 2024. The amount allocated to projects approved under the “natural disasters” category has exceeded €24.6 million, to be distributed to selected municipalities that submitted remediation and recovery projects. This marks a record, compared to €19.5 million in… Read more »
UAAR’s Darwin Days 2026 kick off
Darwin Day is an international event held every year on February 12 to commemorate the birth of Charles Darwin through meetings and discussions. This year as well, UAAR local groups have organized numerous events to celebrate the birth of the father of the theory of evolution. In 2026, Venice is the city contributing the most to Darwin Day, with no fewer than three events: one on February 5 titled “Evolution of Vision,” one on February 12 in Venice Mestre, “Dinner… Read more »
Catholic Religion Instruction: A Steady Decline
In the 2024/25 school year, the number of students opting out of Catholic religious instruction (IRC) has increased by 1%: 42,000 more than the previous year. A secular overtake has occurred in three municipalities. UAAR urges families to make the best educational choice. Sooner or later, future governments will have to consider a serious reform of Catholic religious instruction in public schools. The number of students choosing not to attend IRC continues to grow steadily, at a rate of about… Read more »
Free tuition at the University of Bologna for permanent members of religious orders
The saga of privileges granted to the Church and members of the clergy continues. The latest chapter concerns the University of Bologna, which has decided to grant an exemption from tuition fees to permanent members of religious orders. Want to earn a degree in Bologna for free? Join a congregation affiliated with “Vatican Inc.” and you won’t have to pay any tuition. The Alma Mater appears to be the only public university in Italy to grant fee waivers to those… Read more »
Blessings during school hours in Cerea (Verona), yet another case of clerical bullying
Something surreal took place in Cerea, in the province of Verona, where the principal Silvia De Mitri of the “Fratelli Sommariva” Comprehensive Institute (combined primary and lower secondary school) invited middle school students in their final year to take part in an event that included prayers and blessings on the occasion of the inauguration of public works. An illegitimate act, given that the ruling of March 27, 2017, by the Council of State establishes that acts of worship are prohibited… Read more »
Reminder – Giubilaic: The Festival We Needed
There are still a few places available to take part in Giubilaic, the initiative promoted by UAAR Florence and UAAR Lucca, with the patronage of the Municipality of Florence, aimed at giving space and voice back to fundamental issues that are still too rarely discussed from a secular perspective: freedom of choice, civil rights, self-determination, public education, and secularism in institutions. Giubilaic will take place in Florence on September 20 and 21, 2025, and the date is no coincidence. UAAR… Read more »
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