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Italian Atheist Sues Priest Over Jesus' Existence.
Lawsuit accuses parish of making profit off fable…
An Italian atheist is suing a parish priest for saying Jesus Christ existed. The hearing could takes weeks to decide. Luigi Casciloi 72, a life-long atheist is suing Rev. Enrico Righi 75, a local parish priest. The case has opened debate here over whether its appropriate for a civil court to decide matters of religious faith.

To some Italians the case is a sign of the growing secularism in their society.  “I don’t think this belongs in the courts, and it never would have gotten there if the church was still held in high esteem as it used to be.

Casciloi filed a civil suit against Righi citing an Italian anti-fraud law designed to target advertisements that make unrealistic health or beauty claims.  Righi wrote in a church newsletter that Jesus was born in Bethlehem to a couple named Mary and Joseph and that he lived in Nazareth.

The court will have to decide whether the statements were indeed fraudulent… One retired professor commented, It (the court) will have to make a judgement about the existence of Christ. As far as I know, no court has ever been required to do such a thing.

One official noted, if Casciloi is successful, the church will be forced to use conditional language when writing about faith-based issues for the public.

Casciloi’s suit is based upon several complaints:

• Righi’s parish has profited financially from promoting the fable of Christ’ life.
• The church is guilty of impersonation by confusing the persona of Jesus with another man…
• The four gospels are filled with conflicting and inaccurate evidence about Jesus.

The burden of proof is upon Casciloi to prove that Jesus is a fabrication. Magistrates have tried unsuccessfully to throw the case out based on the fact that no damages could be proven.

The Vatican has not commented;  Righi has refused to be interviewed on advise from his lawyers.

Casciloi comments,  “I am smart enough to know that I will not win in a country that is 95% Catholic… they will never rule out the existence of Jesus…  But maybe this will make some people think about the contradictions that they believe.”