The Waldensian Evangelical Church – Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches has received the biennial Margherita Hack Prize. This prestigious award was presented last Tuesday, May 12, in the Palazzo della Regione in Trento. Alessandra Trotta, the Moderator of the Tavola Valdese, was present to receive the prize.
The Trentino Laica, which awards the prize, stated in their announcement of this biennium’s award that the award “represents a significant tribute to the civic, social, and cultural commitment that the Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches consistently demonstrates in our country. The connection between the values of freedom of thought, the promotion of scientific culture, and ethical commitment—distinctive features of Margherita Hack’s legacy—is consistently reflected in the work of the Tavola Valdese and in the church’s attentive and passionate leadership in Italian life.”
Moderator Trotta made the following statement after learning of this year’s award:
“The Italian Waldensian Methodist Church is honored by the awarding of this important prize given to recognize work to countering prejudice and building dialogue, human progress, and peace in our increasingly pluralistic and complex society.”
Trentino Laica, the organization that grants the Margherita Hack Award is a non-profit association that works to enhance the value of the individual in Italian society as well as the freedom of expression, the emancipation of minorities, and the independence of science. Margherita Hack devoted much of her 91 years of life to working for civil rights for all Italians and for building a secular society free from the control of any religious organization including that of the Italian Roman Catholic Church. For almost 30 years, she was a professor of astrophysics at the University of Trieste and contributed significantly to the work of the European Space Agency and NASA in the USA. In her youth she was a talented athlete.
This article has been adapted for English-speaking readers from an article that appeared first on the website of the Italian Waldensian Church.
