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.

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.