Briefs from around the country:

Methodist top court affirms ban on clergy presiding at gay marriage, union ceremonies

DENVER (AP) -- United Methodist clergy cannot perform same-sex marriages or gay civil unions, even if their regional church district supports the idea, the denomination's high court ruled.

The Judicial Council said that a church district, or annual conference, cannot "negate, ignore or violate" churchwide discipline, even if they disagree with the policy.

Last year, the top church legislative body, or General Conference, voted to retain its ban on same-sex marriages and bar clergy from performing the ceremonies or consecrating same-gender unions in the church. Pastors who violate the discipline risk losing their clergy credentials.

The council decision, released Monday after a court meeting in Denver, came in the case of two regional Methodist groups that had issued resolutions supporting clergy who perform same-gender marriages.

The California-Nevada Annual Conference had backed retired pastors who perform the ceremonies. The California-Pacific Conference had recognized "the pastoral need and prophetic authority of our clergy and congregations to offer the ministry of marriage ceremonies for same-gender couples."

Franciscans' appeal of clergy records delays release

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Franciscan Roman Catholic religious order appealed a recent court decision requiring them to release private personnel files in a clergy sex abuse settlement.

Lawyers for the Franciscan Friars of California Inc. filed an appeal April 23, the same day the documents were to be released. The appeal puts that on hold.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Peter D. Lichtman ordered the files' release on April 2, nearly three years after the Franciscans reached a $28 million settlement with 25 people who said they had been molested.

Plaintiffs' attorney Tim Hale has said that previously undisclosed documents could reveal details about how long ago the Franciscans knew of alleged abusers and how they dealt with them.

Deposed Pa. Episcopal bishop asks for another trial

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- A defrocked Episcopal bishop is asking a church court for another trial based on newly discovered love letters related to his case.

Charles E. Bennison Jr. was ousted, or deposed, last year, after a church trial in Philadelphia found he covered up his brother's sexual assaults of a teenage girl in the 1970s.

Bennison's lawyers now say a cache of more than 200 letters between the victim and Bennison's brother contradicts witness testimony at the trial.

The attorneys also argue the letters show the victim tried to hide the relationship, making it hard for the bishop to intervene.

The motion, made public Monday, asks for the charges to be dropped or for a new trial. Church attorney Lawrence White declined comment.

Vatican Museums to donate day's worth of proceeds to Italy quake victims

VATICAN CITY (AP) -- The Vatican Museums say they'll stay open an extra Sunday in May and give all the proceeds to rebuild the earthquake-ravaged Abruzzo region.

A Vatican statement says museum staff will also donate a day's pay to the cause.

The Vatican Museums, which include the Sistine Chapel, announced the May 10 opening on Wednesday -- a day after Pope Benedict visited L'Aquila, the regional capital of the earthquake zone.

The museums are usually closed Sundays, except the last of the month, when admittance is free.

The April 6 quake killed nearly 300 people, drove some 50,000 from their homes and caused severe damage to buildings, including churches and other historic structures. The region is famous for its rich artistic heritage.

Church advertising sermons called 'Great Sex for You' may need to find new home

MELBOURNE, Fla. (AP) -- A church sermonizing about sex may have to find a new home.

Brevard Public School District's risk-management department has threatened to boot New Hope Church out of Sherwood Elementary because of a worship series titled "Great Sex for You."

Church leaders mailed out 25,000 fliers advertising the sermons and asking residents "Is Your Sex Life A Bore?" The three-week program kicked off inside the school auditorium.

The sermon series aims to strengthen marriages by addressing issues that many couples consider too awkward to discuss. Pastor Bruce Cadle had said churches have been "shamefully silent" on the taboo topic.

Mark Langdorf, the school district's director of risk management, says the mailers generated complaints, were not appropriate for elementary school children and shouldn't be used to advertise the sermon in the school.

Langdorf says the church's lease contract is under review.

Neb. inmate can't name himself 'Sinner Bilskirnir'

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- A judge has rejected a request from a prison inmate who, for religious reasons, sought to change his name to "Sinner Lawrence Bilskirnir."

Jonathan L. Thomas cited his Norse religion in seeking the new name, saying he "is a heathen and Thor is his 'High God.' "

But Lancaster County District Judge Steve Burns said Thomas' reasons do not satisfy the legal requirements. Government agencies need to closely track Thomas because of his criminal record and because there are three child-support cases against him, Burns said.

In his ruling, Burns wrote, "Simply because a person is a Christian, a Jew or a Muslim, they do not change their name to Moses."