Judge shelves case over Jesus' existence
February 9, 2006
ROME (Reuters) - An Italian atheist lost his legal crusade against the Catholic Church on Thursday when a judge rejected his attempts to sue a priest for saying that Jesus existed 2,000 years ago, the priest's lawyer said.
Luigi Cascioli, 72, had argued his hometown priest and former schoolmate had effectively broken an Italian law meant to protect the public from being conned.
But instead of granting Cascioli his request to bring the case to court, the judge recommended magistrates investigate him for slandering priest Enrico Righi, Righi's lawyer, Bruno Severo said.
The 76-year-old priest said he was delighted by the news.
"Thank God it's over," Righi told Reuters. "I'm glad it has ended like this, because imagine if it had gone on and on."
Cascioli, author of a book called "The Fable of Christ," said the court had not yet informed him of the ruling. But he was not surprised, and said he would appeal to Italy's highest court, and then to The Hague.
Asked about the possibility he would be tried for slander, Cascioli chuckled, saying that to prove he lied, prosecutors would have to prove that Jesus existed.
"They don't have any proof," he said.
Depends on if you want to count the Bible as a historical source. I wouldn't be surprised if he has to go to the Hague to try and get a ruling to go his way, and we all know just how open-minded to others belifs those socialists are.
7 Comments:
He's Happy? I'm not catholic, and I'm happy.
I'm happy because the whole trial thing was silly to begin with.
I'm not happy.
This trial had a chance to expose two of the biggest shams in the world today: Radical Atheism, and the Roman Catholic Church.
Oh, well. I hope he's stupid enough to dare the RCC to sue him for libel, and stupid enough to appeal the dismissal. He'll be bombarded with facts and logic, from the wealthiest organisation in the world. Who knows? When it's all said and done, he might actually have a coherent thought.
Doubt it.
Suing over religion?
This guy gives atheists a bad name :-)
Responded to your comment at my site, Harvey.
sorry.
HD - No apology necessary. I know we disagree about this. I don't take it personally.
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