Friday, December 05, 2008

Away in a manger: Abandoned baby discovered in nativity crib in Germany

Peter was just hours old when he was discovered in the manger of the Catholic church of St. Peter and St. Paul in the village of Poettmes in southern Germany.

"I was in the church shortly after midday to pray and I heard the baby crying," said Father Thomas Rein, the parish priest.

A small red carpet that is usually used by the priest to kneel on during services was laid over the crib in an attempt to keep the baby warm.

"We prepared the crib in the pre-Christmas period so children could lay fresh straw in it and ponder on the meaning of Jesus and Lo! There really was a Jesus-child in it!" he said excitedly.

"His cries saved his little life; I would not have noticed him otherwise."

There was little time for celebrating; the minister called the emergency services after taking the boy into his house next to the church to keep him warm.

He said: "It was only 12 degrees C in the church. There were fears that he could have hypothermia."

The boy was taken to the Neuburger Paediatric Clinic, where he is making good progress. It was there that the nurses, together with the emergency team, decided to call him, Peter after the church where he was found.

Late on Wednesday police said they had found the baby's mother, who is believed to be a 38-year-old Romanian woman who lived in the area. No further details were given.
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(Source: AP)