First, I would like to acknowledge Ariel Sharon as a hero. He is this week, and this is really a lifetime achievement award, as he is a cornerstone to the Middle East peace process right now. Giving up Gaza was a bold and courageous move, and went off so well, it did not make the "big stories" of 2005 on most lists. My thoughts and prayers are with him.


The Baptism of Jesus Christ, by Piero della Francesca, 1449

No, Jesus is not my hack this week. Luigi Cascioli is. Who is he you ask? He is taking the Catholic Chruch to court, saying they have been lying about the existance of Jesus. Here is his side:

"I started this lawsuit because I wanted to deal the final blow against the Church, the bearer of obscurantism and regression," Cascioli told Reuters.

Cascioli says Righi, and by extension the whole Church, broke two Italian laws. The first is "Abuso di Credulita Popolare" (Abuse of Popular Belief) meant to protect people against being swindled or conned. The second crime, he says, is "Sostituzione di Persona", or impersonation.

"The Church constructed Christ upon the personality of John of Gamala," Cascioli claimed, referring to the 1st century Jew who fought against the Roman army.

Now, I am Catholic, but I think that people have the right to believe whatever they want. Irregardless of what Cascioli says, I don't think it really matters, and this whole thing seems ridiculously frivolous.

Posted by Ryan S. on Friday, January 06, 2006 at 5:41 PM | Permalink |