German priest finds live baby in manger

updated 6:06 p.m. ET Dec. 3, 2008

BERLIN - A baby boy whose troubled mother laid him in the manger of a church nativity in hopes that someone would find and care for him is doing well, police say.

Authorities in Augsburg said a priest was startled to find the newborn in the nativity scene on the altar of the Peter and Paul Church in the village of Poettmes on Tuesday. He immediately called an ambulance.

Police have found the 38-year-old mother. She said she gave up the child because she was in a "difficult personal situation," but hoped someone would quickly find the child and care for him.

The child is being cared for by the local youth services.

The priest told the Welt Online on Wednesday the church hopes to gather donations to help the woman care for her son. She has named him Christian.

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