Church says Buttiglione was treated harshly

The Maltese Church believes that Italy's rejected European Commission nominee, Rocco Buttiglione, was treated harshly, though it said he could have made a better choice of words.

Mr Buttiglione last month was forced to stand down as a Commission candidate by MEPs after he said he regarded homosexuality as a "sin", and that marriage existed to allow women to have children and the protection of a male.

Gozo Bishop Nikol Cauchi told The Sunday Times that the European Parliament may have created a dangerous precedent, while the president of the Curia's Commission for the Church in Malta and Europe, Fr Vanni Xuereb, expressed concern at the way in which Mr Buttiglione's words were manipulated by certain MEPs and sections of the media.

Mgr Cauchi said the issue boiled down to a question of human rights; the vital question being "Is Mr Buttiglione a defender of human rights or an adversary?"

"Of course, human rights is a concept that has developed and there is quite a difference between the provisions contained within the European Convention of Human Rights and those listed by Pope John XXIII in Pacem in Terris."

However, the bishop said it was ironic that the ink was not yet dry on an EU treaty which stated that there was a right to freedom of expression, religion and beliefs and then it took this approach with Mr Buttiglione.

"Mr Buttiglione was sincere. He said that as a Catholic he held certain principles but that he was prepared to abide by the norms of the Commission. It is ironic that he was ousted on account of his sincerity.

"For me, Mr Buttiglione is a champion of human rights. And the EU has created a precedent that may be very dangerous in future as well as depriving the Commission of a valiant man who would have been very useful."

Mgr Cauchi said that people were not obliged to declare their opinions, but once challenged they should do so sincerely.

The bishop said the Church did not approve of marriages between homosexuals, though he said that Mr Buttiglione exaggerated the position with regard to women.

Mgr Cauchi said the EU had not provided enough proof that it was being friendly towards Catholicism, and other religions. "There is a galloping secularism. There is talk of a Europe without a soul, but it seems some people don't want Europe to have one because someone that could help and was honest has been left out."

Fr Xuereb believes that Mr Buttiglione might have been more careful in his choice of words during the European Parliament hearing proceedings.

He also said that Mr Buttiglione was not fully in line with Catholic teaching on homosexuality and the role of women.

"I personally feel that in such a setting he should have avoided the moral argument and simply reiterated his commitment to faithfully execute EU policies as a member of the Commission. However, I am also preoccupied at the way in which his words were manipulated by certain MEPs and sections of the media. Mr Buttiglione said much less than he was reported to have said."

Fr Xuereb added that the process that led to European Commission President-designate Jose Manuel Barroso's decision to reshuffle the Commission was a positive one in itself. "Elected representatives of the peoples of the 25 member states have managed to secure more democratic legitimacy for the incoming Commission. The Commission that will take office in a few weeks time will not, as in previous cases, be just the result of decisions taken by 25 national governments. It will also have the backing of the EP - a backing which, as we have seen, is not a mere rubber-stamping. The EP represents and expresses the diversity that is Europe. My hope is that all its members may fully respect this diversity."

Fr Xuereb said he did not think that the Buttiglione affair reflected some sort of anti-Catholic or anti-Christian bias in the EU and in its institutions.

He said that the newly-signed Constitutional Treaty had reaffirmed in its preamble the role of religion in forging Europe's identity and its values.

"Moreover, in Article I-52 there is an explicit recognition of churches and of their role to the extent that an institutionalised dialogue will be established.

"Having said this, I am fully aware that there are persons within the institutions who, while promoting themselves as defenders of the rights of all kinds of minorities within Europe, expect Christians to keep their beliefs to themselves. Their concept of religion is something that is totally personal. Although in no way should there be undue interference by religion in politics, I cannot agree with those who would have religion locked up in the sacristies. The Christian message has much to contribute in all spheres of life including politics."