"The public opinion is well aware of the Church and what it does specified mgr. Betori , but there are people who want to sling mud at it, making people believe it enjoys special privileges", which "is false". The Secretary of the Italian Bishops Conference mentioned that the reason is not any old or new concession, but the law that establishes the Council Tax, which dates back to 1992 and "provides for some forms of exemption for buildings owned by the State, the regions, the provinces, the local authorities or non-profit organisations". That latter category is precisely the one in which religious confessions, "and therefore not just the Catholic Church", fall into, in connection only "with some specific uses made of such buildings, which must be of a charitable, recreational, educational or religious nature". There are no benefits for any profit-making activity, and the Church abides by this rule. However, "some activities can take on a commercial value insofar as they receive public funds: this is the case of the Caritas soup kitchen which receives aids from the Municipality and must issue a receipt". A requirement, though, which "does not turn assisting the poor into a commercial or profit-making activity", and "thinking Caritas may unfairly compete with the city restaurants is unacceptable".
