A New York City judge has allowed a man to change his name legally to Jesus Christ -- just in time for Christmas.
Jose Luis Espinal, who said he wanted the name change because of "private religious beliefs," said he was in heaven Friday after Civil Court Judge Diane Lebedeff approved his name changing application.
"Basically, my lifetime work is fulfilling the Scripture," the former Espinal, 42, told the New York Daily News. "There are some very deep, deep issues with this name change. Some of it may be very difficult to comprehend and deal with."
Lebedeff approved the application after determining the change wouldn't cause "practical problems.
"He stated no desire to use his proposed name to secure publicity, to proselytize, to fundraise or advise others that he had been cloaked by the courts or government with a religious authority," the judge said.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
