In July the Ministry of Finance publishes the quotas that the various participants in the partitioning of the 8/1000 tax rebates will receive. The Waldensian Church, Union of the Waldensian and Methodist Churches, will receive a little more than 6.9 million euro, about 1.2 million more than last year. This significant increase (+ 19.8%) is due, on the one hand, to a general increase in this fund and, on the other hand, by a greater number of Italian tax payers who decided to choose the Waldensian Church (in 2008 an increase of 13% from the year 2007, which however refers to the statistics of the 2004 tax returns) which means about 204,000 taxpayers chose the Waldensian Church.

"This is a relevant result – commented Pastor Maria Bonafede, Moderator of the Tavola Valdese (Executive Board of the Waldensian and Methodist Churches in Italy) – that entrusts us with greater responsibility in administering this fund and at the same time witnesses the fact that many tax payers appreciate the transparency and the application of lay principles with which we have administered these funds. It is well noted, in fact, that the Synod has decided from the start to use these funds exclusively for cultural and social initiatives as well as for aid, both in Italy and abroad. Not even one euro is used for worship purposes, for evangelization or for paying our ministers. We always publish a detailed account of how this money is spent each year."

The quota received by the Lutheran Church in Italy is also significant: about 2.6 million euro. "It is an important figure considering the numerical consistency of our churches - commented Christiane Groeben, President of the Lutheran Synod -. However, let's take this occasion to lament that the entire mechanism for the distribution of these funds must be improved. The fact is that we do not receive any official communication from the Ministry of Finance as to the entire distribution that takes place in this system."

From press service NEV - Notizie evangeliche, 31 August 2008