Posted on 01/22/2006 3:10:37 PM PST by Cornpone
Rome - Lawyers for a small-town parish priest have been ordered to appear in court next week after the Roman Catholic cleric was accused of unlawfully asserting what many people take for granted: that Jesus Christ existed.
The Reverend Enrico Righi was named in a 2002 complaint filed by Luigi Cascioli after Righi wrote in a parish bulletin that Jesus did indeed exist, and that he was born of a couple named Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem and lived in Nazareth.
Cascioli, a lifelong atheist, claims that Righi violated two Italian laws by making the assertion: so-called "abuse of popular belief" in which someone fraudulently deceives people; and "impersonation" in which someone gains by attributing a false name to someone.
Cascioli says that for 2 000 years the Roman Catholic Church has been deceiving people by furthering the fable that Christ existed, and says the church has been gaining financially by "impersonating" as Christ someone by the name of John of Gamala, the son of Judas from Gamala.
Gospels 'full of errors'
He also asserts that the Gospels - the most frequently cited testimony of Jesus' existence - are inconsistent, full of errors and biased, and that other written evidence from the time is scant and doesn't hold up to scholarly analysis.
Prosecutors, who in Italy are obliged to investigate such complaints, initially tried to have the case dismissed, saying no crime could be verified.
But Cascioli challenged them, and Judge Gaetano Mautone set a hearing for next Friday in Viterbo, north of Rome, to discuss preliminary motions in Cascioli's bid to have the court appoint technical experts to review the historical data and determine if Jesus really did exist.
Cascioli, 72, said in a recent interview that he decided to pursue the case against Righi, a priest in the village of Bagnoregio, near Viterbo, because the cleric had written in the parish bulletin that Jesus existed.
Cascioli is quick to stress that he has no problem with Christians freely professing their faith.
Righi argues that the existence of Christ is "unmistakable" because of the substantial historical evidence - both pagan and religious - testifying that he indeed lived.
"Cascioli maintains that Christ never existed. If he doesn't see the sun at midday, he can't denounce me just because I do.
"He should denounce all believers!" Righi wrote.
Born 'against Christ'
Cascioli says he fully recognises that his case has a slim chance of succeeding in overwhelmingly Catholic Italy, but not because his argument is lacking.
"We aren't optimistic - unless the Madonna makes a miracle, but I don't think that will happen," he joked.
Cascioli says he is merely going through the necessary legal steps in Italy so he can ultimately take the matter to the European Court of Human Rights, where he intends to pursue the case against the church for "religious racism".
"I was born against Christ and God," he said.
"I'm doing it (the complaint) now because I should do it before I die."
It is strange.
Yes he does give athiests a very bad rap.
Atheists are (somewhat successfully, unfortunately) converting the date structure already.
Heard of CE and BCE? "Common Era" and "Before Common Era"
The Christophobia continues to astound. But it was foretold, obviously.
Pretty stupid assertion. There's plenty of evidence that the Roman Emperors knew he had existed.
as a strictly historical issue, it is simple enough to prove that the people in the bible existed from NON-biblical sources.
There are references to Pilot, the crucification, and there are pleanty of "carved in stone" (literally) references of the Diciples in Ancient Greek ruins. (particularly Corinth, the place with the isthmus.)
This is just a lie athiests are asserting as often as possible to try and make up a controversy where no controversy legitimatly exists.
I would think it's because they are unsure, and in their unsuredness, need to reinforce the same onto anyone who will listen.
Once you know the truth, nothing will ever replace it.
Marxism tries to do the same. It is the lying to ones' self that the master of lies loves the most.
Fortunately, when one finds Truth, there is no going back to the father of lies...and there is the true gnashing of teeth....Poor satan...he lost before he began.
FMCDH(BITS)
Even though I don't follow their teachings, I think Mohammed, Confucius, and Siddhartha Gautama existed.
In the case of Christ there were tens of thousands....of more than reliable witnesses..and thousands went to horrible deaths submissively rather than deny Him.
If that is not enough for you it is because He has allowed your heart to be hardened beyond belief...
-very sorry- Hopefully.. He will reveal Himself to you before the vessel that houses your soul in this life is destroyed, and you stand before Him to be judged.
Apart from Christ standing up for you before God...there is no hope...for any of us.
>>>"I was born against Christ and God," he said.>>>
How can you be born against something that 'doesn't exist'?
"I'm an atheist, and I don't get this. It's these types of things, and what that idiot Newdow did, that gives atheists a bad name."
Why should you care, Atheist? By your own professed belief, you are no better than a dog or a hog that goes "poof" when it dies. Why should you care whether atheists "get a bad name?"
(I was an atheist as a student, but outgrew that silliness, by the grace of God.)
Clearly Charles Martel never existed. The Idea that there was ever a frenchman who could fight is absurd.
Good point as well!
By that statement I judge you to be an intellectually honest man.
Good to see rational text like that. :)
Jeff
they are protesting over something that they believe doesn't exist
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
These people have known God and turned away from Him. But most of them still know deep down God does exist and they have a subconscious conflict which comes out in strange ways.
Answers:
Puritan: Someone who can't stand that someone, somewhere might be having fun.
Liberal: Someone who can't stand that someone, somewhere doesn't think the same way they do.
The Reverend Enrico Righi seems to be a little of the former and a lot of the latter.
To Atheist: prove that anything whatsoever exists, including Atheist.
">>>"I was born against Christ and God," he said.>>>
How can you be born against something that 'doesn't exist'?
CHECKMATE! Gotchya too. BINGO man! Game over.
Then he will stand before a REAL Judge and he will not have a prayer. Sad. Truly sad. He had the opportunity and decided to stand on his own laurels.
---
He'll stand there, cover his eyes, and scream, "I can't see you!" over and over again.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.