Page 2106 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

ASUNCION, Paraguay (CNS) — The Vatican warned an inactive Catholic bishop that he faces suspension from the priesthood if he pursues his goal of winning opposition support to run for the Paraguayan presidency. On its Web site, the Paraguayan bishops’ conference posted the warning, signed Dec. 20 by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops. Bishop Fernando Lugo Mendez, the 57-year-old retired bishop of San Pedro, announced publicly Dec. 25 that he intended to leave the priesthood to run as the presidential candidate of an opposition party or coalition in the April 2008 elections.

Baltimore meeting sets standards

BALTIMORE (CNS) — Editors of 27 Catholic publications agreed on standard sizing and pricing for national and regional advertising on Internet sites at a December meeting in Baltimore. “We must have one foot in print, one in pixels,” said Daniel Medinger, co-host of the meeting. Medinger is associate publisher of the Catholic Review, Baltimore archdiocesan newspaper, and president of Advertising Media Plus — AMPs — a national advertising agency that specializes in ad placement in Catholic publications.

Cardinal asks Gov-elect O’Malley for budget support

Cardinal William H. Keeler is asking Gov.-elect Martin J. O’Malley to provide budgetary support for programs benefiting nonpublic schools and women in crisis pregnancies. In a Dec. 12 letter, Cardinal Keeler urged the new governor to increase funding for a program providing nonreligious textbooks and technology for students in nonpublic schools. The allocation for the textbook/technology program dipped to $3 million two years ago, but was increased to $4 million by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. last year. Cardinal Keeler requested that Gov.-elect O’Malley restore funding to $6 million, the amount approved for the program when it was launched by Gov. Parris N. Glendening.

Researchers urge better auditing in Catholic parishes

VILLANOVA, Pa. (CNS) — More than four out of five U.S. dioceses have experienced embezzlement or other misuse of parish funds within the past five years, but only two-fifths have formal written fraud policies, two Villanova University researchers said. Villanova business school professors Robert West and Charles Zech reported that according to a national survey of chief diocesan financial officers 21 percent said the diocese “seldom or never” audits parish finances and only 3 percent said such audits are conducted every year.

No room at the inn? Vatican Nativity scene gets more figures

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican’s 2006 Christmas tree did not turn out to be the tallest ever, but its Nativity scene is definitely the most populated. In addition to Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus and the three kings, the creche in St. Peter’s Square also features peasants, a flutist, a bagpipe player and a shepherd named “Titaoca.”

Greek Orthodox archbishop to visit pope, announces Vatican

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens, spiritual leader of the Orthodox church of Greece, will visit Pope Benedict XVI Dec. 13-16, the Vatican announced.

Some Islamic terms defined