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BOSTON (CNS) — The Catholic bishops of Massachusetts thanked state legislators Jan. 2 “for living up to their oath of office” by voting on a constitutional marriage amendment initiative before ending their legislative session. On its last day in its 2005-06 session, a reluctant Legislature narrowly approved the initiative, which would amend the state’s constitution to ban same-sex marriages. Then it voted to reconsider. Then it voted again — also narrowly — to approve the measure.

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Up to 25 U.S. bishops, including five cardinals, could retire because of age this year. There are 14 still-active U.S. bishops, including three cardinals, who have already turned 75. Eleven more, including two cardinals, will celebrate their 75th birthday in 2007. At age 75 bishops are requested to submit their resignation to the pope.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) — A memorial wall with the names of 68,000 people killed in South Africa’s violent past is a necessary reminder that freedom can’t be taken for granted, said a church official. “At the park one faces this solid and impenetrable monument that represents what we need freedom from,” said Holy Family Sister Shelagh Mary Waspe, who counsels people affected by apartheid and is the coordinator of the Johannesburg Diocese’s justice and peace commission. Apartheid was South Africa’s official system of strict racial segregation.

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 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.

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.

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.”

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.

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Here are some terms commonly associated with Islam: