In one of the most ominous legal cases in an era of ominous litigation, an Italian judge today heard arguments on whether or not a parish priest in that nation should stand trial for claiming Jesus of Nazareth actually existed. Viterbo, Italy, north of Rome, is the venue where Rev. Enrico Righi is being sued by his childhood friend, atheist Luigi Cascioli, for allegedly deceiving people into thinking Jesus was an actual historical figure.
"This complaint does not wish to contest the freedom of Christians to profess their faith, sanctioned by [article] 19 of the Italian Constitution," says Cascioli, "but wishes to denounce the abuse that the Catholic Church commits by availing itself of its prestige in order to inculcate – as if being real and historical – facts that are really just inventions."
Attorneys for Righi and Cascioli presented their arguments before Judge Gaetano Mautone in Viterbo in a short, closed hearing.
"The point is not to establish whether Jesus existed or not, but if there is a question of possible fraud," said Cascioli's attorney, Mauro Fonzo, to reporters, according to the Associated Press.
Although Cascioli and his attorney know their case has little chance of success in the home of the Roman Catholic Church, their strategy is to go through the necessary legal steps that will enable them, ultimately, to bring their anti-Jesus case before the European Court of Human Rights. There, says Fonzo, he will accuse the church of "religious racism," said the report.
Cascioli, the author of "The Fable of Christ," claims his childhood friend violated local laws against deception when he stated in a 2002 parish gazette "that the historic figure of Jesus was the son of Joseph and Mary (two totally imaginary characters and therefore historically non existing [claims Cascioli]); of having the same Jesus been born in the village of Bethlehem and of having grown up in Nazareth."
Specifically, Cascioli says Righi has broken two Italian laws: the "abuse of popular belief'' – which amounts to intentionally deceiving someone – and "impersonation" – meaning one gains by giving a false name to someone.
On his website, Cascioli alleges the person known as Jesus is "for the most part based on the figure of John of Gamala, son of Judas, downright descendant of the Asmoneian stock."
Rev. Righi says the existence of Jesus is "unmistakable" due to a wealth of both pagan and Christian evidence pointing to his reality.
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