Bishop lifts suspension of Lutheran minister

Copenhagen, Denmark — A Lutheran minister who was suspended for claiming that neither God nor the afterlife existed was allowed to return to work as a preacher. But the local bishop vowed to keep an eye on him.

Thorkild Grosboel, pastor of Taarbaek, “has apologized for his comments that caused doubts about the church’s confession of faith,” said Bishop Lise-Lotte Rebel of the Helsingoer diocese, which includes the town of 51,000 just north of Copenhagen.

“Because he has expressed his understanding about his obligations, the bishop has decided to remove the suspension,” she said in a statement co-signed by Grosboel.

However, Rebel said she would monitor Grosboel.

Banned message on brick prompts Chicago lawsuit

Chicago — A Chicago couple sued Mayor Richard M. Daley, the city and its park district, claiming officials violated their freedom of speech and religion in a disagreement over a children’s playground.

Robert and Mildred Tong said in the July 22 lawsuit that the park district had treated them unfairly by refusing to let the Tongs write a religious message on a brick used to pave the center of the playground.

The bricks were being sold as part of a fund-raiser. The Tongs, who have three children, paid $50 for the inscription: “Missy, EB & Baby: Jesus is the Cornerstone. Love, Mom & Dad.”

But the park district told the Tongs it cannot “accept any donors’ commemorative bricks that have a religious message.”