An Italian judge dismissed an atheist’s case that a small-town priest should stand trial for asserting that Jesus Christ existed, a lawyer said today.

AN ITALIAN judge is to rule on whether a small-town parish priest should stand trial for asserting Jesus Christ existed, following a hearing yesterday.

Opening arguments were set to begin today in the case of an Italian priest who was accused by an atheist of breaking two Italian laws by asserting that Jesus Christ existed.

LAWYERS for a parish priest have been ordered to appear in court next week after the Roman Catholic cleric was accused of unlawfully asserting what many take for granted - that Jesus Christ existed.