Hovrätten, The court of appeal in Helsinki, rules in favor of a night club in a dispute over the right to use the name Club Vatican.

The Catholic Church in Finland regards the use of the name "Club Vatican" as misleading and contrary to good practice.

– The name insults the activities of the Catholic Church, its values and its members by connecting its headquarters with a night club, the Catholic Church in Finland states in its complaint to the court of appeal in Helsinki.

Furthermore the Catholic Church in Finland considers "Club Vatican" to abuse and bring shame to what the church finds holy. The church also opposes the usage of a sticker with the Vatican's official coat of arms at the night club's entrance.

In a response the night club claims that common people will not think of the name as an offense.

In it's decision the appeals court states that the name does not expose the Catholic faith, it's values or worship to disdain or defamation. The name "Club Vatican" does not either contain holy notions, values or charachteristics of the Catholic faith.

The Catholic Church in Finland is now obliged to compensate the night clube with 11 000 euros in litigation costs.

The tabloid Iltalehti was the first to report on the court case.

Read the full article in Swedish here.