The Buttiglione furore

Now, on which side of the European Parliament does the Inquisition sit? Let's find out. Rocco Buttiglione, the Italian Christian Democrat in the proposed new Commission, said during his grilling by the European Parliamentary: "I may think that homosexuality is a sin; this has no effect on politics, unless I say that homosexuality is a crime."

This is the main statement made by the Commissioner-designate which caused the EP's Civil Liberties Committee to get all worked up and to vote 27-26 against the appointment of Mr Buttiglione, Italy's European Affairs Minister, as Commissioner in charge of Justice.

The same committee voted 28 to 25 against Mr Buttiglione's re-appointment to another post within the Commission. These votes are politically significant, but cannot stop Mr Buttiglioni from taking on the post unless the European Parliament rejects the whole 25-strong Barroso Commission. Parliament will have the opportunity to do this on Wednesday.

Later Mr Buttiglione wrote a letter to Commission President-designate Josè Manuel Barroso, emphasising: "I do not expect that a conflict might arise between my conscience and my duty as a Commissioner but if this should ever be the case during my mandate, I am ready to formally ask you to be exonerated from the execution of a particular act and to be substituted in it.

"The only thing I cannot do is to change my principles against my conscience for a political convenience."

During the Parliamentary hearing Buttiglione also said: "Many things may be considered immoral, which should not be prohibited," and "the state has no right to stick its nose into these things and nobody can be discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation... this stands in the Charter of Human Rights, this stands in the Constitution and I have pledged to defend this constitution."

Mr Buttiglione's comments on homosexuality and more so on women were considered to be unfortunate by some. Yet he made it amply clear both during the hearing and after that he was not going to allow his beliefs to interfere in his duties.

Don't we all have our secret likes and dislikes? Don't we all have certain moral values, which we personally think should be upheld above all else? Mr Buttiglione was honest enough, when pressed, to lay his cards on the table as it were. But he even gave the strongest assurances that he would not be party to any discrimination against homosexuals or anyone else for that matter.

So what are those who are orchestrating the outcry against Buttiglione trying to tell us? That only those who believe in divorce, abortion and (toss in) mercy killing for good measure are eligible for high office in the EU?

I happen not to share Buttiglione's views on women and would find it impossible to accuse homosexuals of sinning. I would however stand four-square with him on many other issues, such as abortion. I would also defend his right to express himself freely. Europe is the land of the free and freedom is worth dying for.

When one considers Buttiglione's stands on many issues more calmly, one must conclude that they are not as dangerous to the EU as some people mark them out to be. For one thing, decision-making in the EU is not something which falls within the remit of a single person.

What are those who oppose Mr Buttiglione's appointment trying to tell us? That despite his assurances to the contrary, he can propose measures violating the principle of discrimination and that his fellow Commissioners will be helpless to botch them?

That the European Parliament will not be able to stop him if he slips the Commission's net? That the governments of the member states are not alert enough to catch him if he dare try to hoodwink them into agreeing to a measure which violates non-discrimination? That the Court of Justice will become numb to whatever Buttiglione does?

I think that it is always right for the European Parliament to speak its mind openly. But when it continues to harass a man who has pledged allegiance to the treaties, the Charter of Fundamental Rights and to the principles underlying the new European Constitution, then the practice changes from legitimate scrutiny into illegitimate inquisition and persecution.

In Europe we have seen, over the past years, Communists publicly denuding themselves of their old garments and putting on more appropriate and more chic democratic ones. And we said nothing. Rather we welcomed them into the fold.

But we seem to be ready to hound others for having principles (even though they are different from ours), for standing up to them and for boldly underlining the fine distinctions they will be making when entrusted with high office - namely that they will not sin by breaking the law in order to "straighten" what they hold to be a "sin".

Instead of stoking up heated debates on nothing, the European Parliament should commit itself more strongly towards helping to bring the values of the Union to the people.

Dr Pace is chairman of the European Movement (Malta).