Pittsburgh nativity scene causes parking dispute

Pittsburgh – City officials said they would ask a private group, the Christian Leaders Fellowship, to remove signs permitting 10-minute parking near a downtown replica of the Vatican’s manger scene. A lawyer complained police violated the U.S. Constitution by granting the parking waiver.

The creche has been on display the past four years.

Lawyer Jon Pushinsky raised an objection on grounds of church-state separation, and local American Civil Liberties Union director Witold Walczak said he would contact officials if the signs were not removed.

The Rev. Ronald Lengwin, a Roman Catholic priest and Christian Leaders spokesman, said, “It seems to me an effort to remove God as much as possible from every aspect of life.”

But Walczak said the parking variance makes it look like “the city is promoting that particular display.”

Foundation provides funds to aid campus programs

Indianapolis – The Lilly Endowment is granting $76.8 million to 39 church-related U.S. colleges, Protestant and Catholic, to help overcome growing clergy shortages.

The grants support campus programs that encourage students to consider clergy careers or related forms of service. Over three years, Lilly has granted $171.3 million to 88 schools.

The foundation “is focused heavily on attracting a new generation of talented ministers for congregations,” said Lilly’s vice president for religion, Craig Dykstra.

Vatican’s top theologian chosen dean of College

Vatican City – The Vatican’s top theologian, German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, has been chosen dean of the College of Cardinals, replacing Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, 80, who wants to return to his homeland of Benin.

The title, mainly honorary, makes Ratzinger, 75, a kind of first among equals in the college that elects the pope. Ratzinger continues as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican office that protects doctrinal orthodoxy.

The dean, at one time chosen by seniority, was selected by several leading cardinals, Ratzinger among them, and confirmed by the pope.

New Anglican leader explains policies

London – Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, who has acknowledged ordaining a practicing homosexual while serving in Wales, says he probably won’t do it again.

He also told the Church Times he sees no theological objection to women bishops, but suggested if any are consecrated in England the church might need a separate jurisdiction for dissenting traditionalists.

The archbishop took office this week as leader of the Church of England and 77 million Anglicans and Episcopalians worldwide.

Anglican bodies in Canada, the United States and New Zealand have women bishops, and that step has been approved in principle by Anglicans elsewhere.