Updated: MEP in angry reaction after use of word 'Christianity' deemed politically incorrect
David Casa
MEP David Casa has reacted with anger and incredulity after a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers deemed the use of the word Christianity in a draft statement to be politically incorrect.
In a statement Mr Casa noted that despite the recent attacks on Christian minorities in Egypt and Iraq, the meeting of EU foreign Ministers has failed to agree on a resolution condemning the atrocities. The controversy arose over the use of the term 'Christian'.
EU High Representative Baroness Catherine Ashton had claimed that specifically mentioning one religion would not be politically correct. The draft statement was watered down to the extent that it was not clear what was being referred to, much to the fury of Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini who asked for the text to be withdrawn.
In his reaction, Mr Casa said:
"How is it possible to properly condemn these atrocities without any mention of the targets? If we intend spending tax payer's money to draft pieces of paper stating that people should not be blown up in general we should all just pack up and go home. Perhaps our High Representative should be better informed as to who she is representing? We have become incapable of condemning attacks on our fellow Christians - What a sad day for Europe!" stated Mr Casa.
FOREIGN MINISTER BACKS MENTION OF CHRISTIANITY
The Foreign Ministry in a statement in the afternoon said that Foreign Minister Tonio Borg had argued that Christian communities which suffering violence, murder and persecution in various parts of the world should be mentioned specifically.
He also backed Mr Frattini‘s argument that if there no agreement , the statement on political freedom should be sent to the Politics and Security Committee for examination.
The statement was later sent back to the committee. The subject is to be discussed again on February 21.
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charles caruana
Feb 5th 2011, 10:56
Who are the ‘great historians’, whom you fail to mention? Are they Francois Furet or Christopher Dawson, for instance, especially the latter, whom you obviously have not read or otherwise you would know that there would not have been any Enlightenment and Reason without the Christian heritage. Recognising the importance of an event is different from evaluating it. Your ‘Great Event triggered by Reason’ ( a deformed reason , the Pope would add)produced the Thermidor - the Terror, with Robespierre and the the French revolutionaries turning on each other , the massacres of the Vendée and finally the cherry on the cake, a military dictator by the name of Napoleon who as Emperor personified the absolute antithesis of the ideals of the revolution. Have you asked why the French occupation of these Islands in the name of liberation was the shortest in all its colonial history? Modern Europe has far deeper roots than your romantic dream of the French Revolution, and if you just contrast the European cultural and artistic heritage inspired by Christianity with that inspired by the French revolution you might just begin to get a glimpse of the enormity in the difference of scale involved.
Frans Sammut
Feb 4th 2011, 20:39
The most reliable historians concur that modern Europe knows its origins to the French Enlightenment and the Revolution it spawned in France in 1789 and the subsequent years. The Pope himself has recognized the importance of the Great Event triggered by Reason. There should be no contradiction between the Christian heritage and the great leap forward effected by way of the French Revolution. Christianity per se was never set against the "nation" (read the people), in fact it represented the people when it was still persecuted by the pagan Romans. This role was expropriated by the barbarian warlords who superceded the Christianized Roman Empire. It was they who created the aristocratic classes who saw themselves as the representatives of God and the whole paraphernalia that was eliminated only through the efforts of the French republican thinkers AND the revolutionaries themselves. I'm afraid those who are still unable to reconcile THE revolution and basic Christian values still need to learn a lot more about European history. I mean European not the European Union which is something else - a different theme altogether.
Pule' Carmel
Feb 4th 2011, 14:44
Europe stopped Hitler from killing jews,but I cannot believe that it is dragging its feet to help"Christianity" which formed it! Tollerance in Europe will be its own doom as others are using European Christian tollerance to exploit it, and eventually govern it with laws which are as bad, if not worse than Hitler. The other day I watched a 5 year old girl being asked questions about the Koran, my, my what a memory. That child must have been indoctrinated with memorised lines, which she hardly understood, but dished out so quickly without ever analysing what she said. The poor girl had no mind of her own, but all the quotations of others. This type of indoctrination was the reason why the Muslims countries produced only seven Nobel Prize winners five of which were for Peace andnot any scientific contribution. I looked up what free thinking countries produced in Nobel prize winners, Europe,Israel, America, Germany etc Christianity may have its regulations but it seems that it allows some free thinking. In Malta we have no Nobel Prize winners and much doctrination in education did exist. I believe in Malta indoctrination still exist but not as much as I mentioned elswhere.
Frans Sammut
Feb 4th 2011, 14:10
Just for the record, modern Europe knows its origin to the French Revolution (1789 ff) not Christianity. Having said that I cannot understand why the notion of Christianity should bother Europeans many of whom belong to different denominations of that religion. Another thing, I cannot resist the temptation to ask whether the great apostles of the EU had investigated the principles of the same Union, many of these advocates of the EU profess Catholicism, the most 'hated' branch of Christianity among the Nordics. I wonder what the terms of reference of these pseudo-intellectuals really are. I, for one, was dead set against Malta's joining the EU because Dr Alfred Sant thought so and I knew that he knew about the EU much more than anybody else in this intellectually retarded Republic. Retarded? Yes, retarded. If it weren't we wouldn't have EU fans moaning the fact that the EU is embarrassed by its Christian heritage.
Maurice Vella
Feb 4th 2011, 16:25
Oh, so THAT's why you were dead set against Malta joining the EU. Because Alfred Sant said so not because you did your own research! Says so much about you!
Well this genius of yours also said he won the EU referendum .... I suppose you thought the same?
charles caruana
Feb 4th 2011, 19:17
'Just for the record, modern Europe knows its origin to the French Revolution (1789 ff) not Christianity.' Having said that, you have said the historical howler of the century. Even an amateur historian would tell you that the French Revolution could not have occured anywhere but in a Chrisitan continent at the time it occurred, even though it assumed the form of a rebellious child turning on its somewhat effete parent. The very concept of revolution is inseparable from a Western Chrisian context, like the scientific, industial revolution and all the revolutions that followed. Is it an accident that they did not occur in the more ancient Chinese, Hindu civilizations or the still stagnant Islamic one? The concept of modernit y itself is inconeivable without the West where the confluence of Greek, Roman and Christian cultures produced the unique conditions that produced it. So spare us silly simplfications please.
J. Spiteri
Feb 4th 2011, 11:56
Coming from a country whose attitudes and moral values have gone down the drain, we know what to expect from Catherine Ashton !
Carmel Cilia
Feb 4th 2011, 10:03
We were never told that the E.U. is shying itself from Christianity. What an ironic fact for all those who voted for Europe and now are anti Divorce because of their christian belief. Hip Hip Hoorey
Joe E Galea
Feb 4th 2011, 09:48
For once I agree wit David Casa. Well done!! Keep it up!!
Charles Zahra
Feb 4th 2011, 07:52
Prosit, MEPs should call a spade a spade.
Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Feb 4th 2011, 03:29
Perhaps there is more to the story than meets the eye. I would reserve my judgment until I am familiar with the report and what changes were proposed. I imagine if Tonio Borg is saying that Christians who are victims of persecution and discrimination should be identified, then why does his government not identify gay men and lesbians as victims of discrimination in Malta ... and I mean legal discrimination. What has his government done about it?
Roger Tanti
Feb 4th 2011, 10:35
hat does killing christians has anything to do with discriminations on gays? No seriously... have you read the article?
Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Feb 4th 2011, 21:49
I am not condoning violence but where was your government's outrage at the hanging of youngs gays in Iran or the recent murder of David Cato? Or for that matter, where was the Pope and where is he when gay men and lesbians are persecuted and discriminated against in Africa? If you and your government and your Church are against persecution, then stand up and be counted even when that persecution is directed against gay men and lesbians.
Robert Callus
Feb 3rd 2011, 15:42
A few weeks ago, after the attacks in question, Egyptian Muslims served as human shields for the Coptic Christians, to protect them from the terrorists. Yesterday, Egyptian Christians protected Egyptian Muslims from the pro-Mubarak thugs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqXfZTgOCOE
And the overpaid EU bureaucrats are fighting over a word!
Martin Abela
Feb 3rd 2011, 08:06
Prosit David, that is the way, Europe has been going down under, ever since it started playing hide and seek with its core values.
S Porter
Feb 2nd 2011, 21:19
Well done Mr Casa
Joe Anastasi
Feb 2nd 2011, 20:58
When are we going to stop bending over backwards to please Muslims.
As far as I know, Europe is predominently Christian, and hopefully proud of it.
But how long will that last ?
jennifer grima
Feb 2nd 2011, 20:48
In england they come out withislamaphobia[in case you say what you feel]and baroness wazi said last week that islamaphobia is acceptable at the dinner table.You cannot have freedom of spech even in your own home in case some people get upset!
Evarist Saliba
Feb 2nd 2011, 20:10
David Casa is quite right to object to the attitude of Baroness Catherine Ashton. Her credentials to fill the post she holds are rather weak, but it is up to the ministers of foreign affairs to keep her in check. The Italian foreign minister did so, and I am glad to learn that he was supported by our own minister.
d attard
Feb 2nd 2011, 19:50
EU High Representative Baroness Catherine Ashton is an un-elected beurocrat... I support David Casa in upholding Maltese traditions. Proset
M Grima
Feb 2nd 2011, 19:30
Europe is not exclusively Christian. Minorities have to be recognised and allowances made for them and they must be treated equally. It is right. Surely Mr Casa knows that,doesn't he?
charles caruana
Feb 3rd 2011, 17:11
How prim and proper! This is not a question of minorities and majorities lady; victims, whoever they are and to whatever group they belong, should be shown the respect and dignity of having their unique identity and right to existence recognized and acknowledged as such, not least as a sign of concrete solidarity. 'Safe', diluted and inoffensive condemnations are for them insults dictated by fear. If you cannot understand this, you are just another true believer worshiping at the cracked altar of political correctness.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Feb 2nd 2011, 19:30
WELL DONE -Mr. Casa
It's high time we start defending our values immaterial of what some bureaucrat in Brussels deems appropriate.
Such attitudes can only lead to a DIVIDED EUROPE.
charles caruana
Feb 2nd 2011, 19:30
@ Ramon Casha
No not politically incorrect, just idiotically correct. Who except you and Ashton is claiming that mentioning Christian victims by name in a specific case like this is a slight on other non-Christians? Have you asked them, especially the Muslims who surrounded the Coptic church to defend the Christian Copts? What kind of ridiculous reasoning is this? Who is making the silly implications that ‘that things would be different if the victims had been non-Christian’ or that the ‘violence directed against non-Christians is less serious’ except you? So the victims of Schrebreniza should not have been identified as Muslims, according to you, in case Christians might have been offended. How absurd. What is wrong in pointing out and mentioning by name that in a particular instance Muslims, Hindus, Baha’ i or atheists have been victimized and condemning the outrage without any of the anodyne and vacuous generalizations that you suggest? You seem to be as enslaved by the creed of political correctness as Lady Ashton is.
l fava
Feb 2nd 2011, 17:42
Le ghad Divorzju
Robert Callus
Feb 2nd 2011, 17:25
I read Ramon Casha's comment, and I must say he does have a point.
However this "politcial correctness mania" is becoming absurd as well as divisive. It started out as basic respect and dignity (calling homosexuals gays not "faggots", blacks not "niggers". So far so good.
Unfortunately now it has come to mean choosing the right words to hide the wrong policy. In this case, Baroness Whatever wants to be sure we use the right words when we refer to the attacks on coptics in Egypt and Iraq. Yet, the same EU is financing and supporting dictators (Mubarak) and invasions (Iraq) in exactly the same countries.
So what if we kill thousands of innocent people, and send others to the torture chambers as long as we use the right terminology.
albert leone ganado
Feb 2nd 2011, 17:03
David Casa is fully right on this score. It is clear that it is the Christian Copts who are being continually harassed, discriminated against and attacked in Egypt and truth demands that facts are stated as they are. It is perhaps not an often highlighted fact that there has been a soft religious cleansing of Christians in Arab countries since the sixties which has resulted in a large proportion of them leaving because of pressure or discrimination what has been their their arab homeland for the last two thousand years.
JOe VELLa
Feb 2nd 2011, 18:40
Sir,
Allow me to agree fully with albert leone ganado. They say we are the smallest country in the Europe Union but we have a Big Heart for your Believes.
J S Borg
Feb 2nd 2011, 16:52
Does Mrs Ashton know that towns in England are being renamed? Does she know about the new town called Bradistan?
john borg
Feb 2nd 2011, 16:45
The same could be said on the divorce issue in Malta simply replacing a few words:-
Perhaps our Representative (Jeffrey Pulliccino Orlando) should be better informed as to who he is representing? (i.e. The PN, A christian democratic party). We have become incapable of condemning attacks (i.e. Divorce is anti Christian) on our fellow Christians - What a sad day for Malta (& the PN)!
J S Borg
Feb 2nd 2011, 16:38
Dr Pollina have you ever heard about Palestine,occupied zones and what not.
During the Christmas Holidays, or should I say winter holidays? I watched a documentary by one of the european commissions about Kosovo. It was incredible, churches burned down, cemetries desecrated and dug up, Serbian culture being attacked and belittled. Monks walking out of convents have to be accompnied by KFOR security. To crown it all when the President was interviewed he insisted that Kosovo is very democratic everyone is free to practice his beliefs.
How I wish to live for another fifty years the see europe as the poorest continent.
Jason Borg
Feb 2nd 2011, 16:24
Fuq din ħaqqek prosit David. Grazzi.
James Formosa
Feb 2nd 2011, 16:24
I've noticed many arguments have nothing to do with the article and go on about Crusades, and Christian extremism, attacks on Jews etc. Now imagine you guys had to write your blogs without the mentioning of Jews, Muslims or Christians because it was politically incorrect!! Then your blogs would equate to humans killing humans irrespective of religion and you wouldn't make your point, would you? I think David has a point after all.
Ramon Casha
Feb 3rd 2011, 06:45
A blog is the personal opinion of one person. However this would be a statement BY the EU... all of it. There is nothing preventing David Casa from issuing this statement on a personal basis, including on a blog.
Mark Saliba
Feb 2nd 2011, 16:01
well done david. ignore the labour party elves and their comments
antoinette azzopardi
Feb 2nd 2011, 15:46
Well done Mr.Casa!!
K Zammit
Feb 2nd 2011, 15:31
Europe wake up . all the people want is for you (Euro MPs) to get the message across in plain language ' If you don;t like the way we do things here in Europe why not try some other place which is more suited to your traditions and background. Quote from the ex Aussie Prime Minister " Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid
to head off potential terror attacks. A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty to Australia and her Queen at a special meeting with Prime Minister John
Howard, he and his Ministers made it clear that extremists would face a crackdown.Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to Howard,
hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country if
they did not accept that Australia was a secular state, and its laws
were made by parliament.“If those are not your values, if you want a
country which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is
not for you”, he said on National Television. http://www.scribd.com/doc/46100/Australias-Stance-On-Political-Correctness
J Oatmon
Feb 2nd 2011, 15:22
I agree this daft 'politically correct' hogwash has gone on long enough.
The public should not be scared off - we should all speak our minds, and not be obliged to fabricate 'daft niceties of speech' just to appease these childish politicians (many of whom have never worked in Africa or Arabian countries).
I really think we should all simply speak our minds, and if if offends someone then those people need to be less sensitive and thicker skinned - it's life get used to it!
Louis Gialanze
Feb 2nd 2011, 15:21
Catherine Ashton is back to her true form David, back in the days when she militated within the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament . Indeed, the leopard never changes it's spots!
JOE INGUANEZ
Feb 2nd 2011, 15:20
Was Baroness Catherine Ashton appointed to her present post because of her competence in international affairs or due to "political correctness" towards the UK?
Stephen Forster
Feb 2nd 2011, 16:14
I think you meant her incompetence....
Geoffrey Mifsud Farrugia
Feb 2nd 2011, 15:12
ehhh..kemm kellha ragun Oriana Fallaci!! u nies ohra li jahsbuha bhalha..ma nafx ghalfejn Casa qed johodha daqshekk bi kbira..l-EU l'hemm miexja..id-duda diga dahlet il-gewwa sewwa!
Andrew Farrugia
Feb 2nd 2011, 16:24
Absolutely! The great, inimitable Oriana Fallaci had foreseen all this decades ago! How sad it is that we no longer have journalists and writers of her calibre!
charles caruana
Feb 2nd 2011, 15:08
These politically correct bigots are mirror images of religious bigots. The truth is a) most European governments are terrified of offending Islamic sentiments, which shows that the terrorism of the Islamic fundamentalists has paid dividends, b) the denigration and subtle suppression of their Christian heritage by many EU mandarins is a species of abject and cowardly appeasement, c) they try to restrict and confine the public practice and influence of Christians on the pretext of not offending other religions d) those media heroes, village atheists, bien-pensant egg-heads who lose no opportunity to ridicule Christian beliefs and values, weakening in the process the spiritual and cultural identity of Europe will one day find out which religion is the most tolerant of their liberal heroics and politically correct antics. Perhaps a visit to the Banlieues around Paris, or certain enclaves and ghettos in London, Amsterdam or Malmo might cure them of their bravado. I doubt they will stay there long enough. What i don't doubt is their selective 'courage' in attacking the only safe target around - Christianity
M. Fenech
Feb 2nd 2011, 15:06
It's better if David Casa tells his party which at the moment is governing Malta, about how the tax payer's money are spent here!! And better to avoid this religious fever! By the way, can David Casa tell us his position on the divorce issue??? His answer will be quite interesting for many readers on this site!! I hope that he gives us an answer, since he's so fervent about religion and human rights too!!!
victor pulis
Feb 2nd 2011, 15:03
EU High Representative Baroness Catherine Ashton had claimed that specifically mentioning one religion would not be politically correct.
How about,
'The EU foreign ministers condemn the attacks on CHRISTIANS by extremist ISLAMIC terrorists.'
There, that's TWO religions mentioned!
Ramon Casha
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:57
Of course it's politically incorrect. I commented about this before. Condemning attacks on Christians implies that things would be different if the victims had been non-Christian. It also exposes to scrutiny how often the EU has condemned violence against Christians versus violence against Muslims, or Baha'i, or atheists.
Unless you feel that violence directed against non-Christians is less serious, then the statement should condemn violence against all people, perhaps with special reference to the vulnerability of minorities in such situations.
K Cassar
Feb 2nd 2011, 21:40
The fact remains that they were attacked because they were Christians. Should that be ignored? If a group of Moslems were attacked in Malta, would it not be reported that they were Moslems? And would it not be condemned that there had been an attack on Moslems?
The mind boggles!
Joe V Scerri
Feb 2nd 2011, 23:27
Ramon,
This was a reaction to the particular case : the attack on Coptic Christians in Egypt. The stand by the EU should have either started there and then propagate the argument to all beliefs or started from that general principle and then make a reference to the particular case.
That is how you maintain political correctnes in my humble and poor opinion.
As things stand however there seems to be a systematic agenda within the EU to (intendedly) ignore Christianity - the Treaty of Lisbon, the Diaries, and now this as case in point.
Kenneth Cassar
Feb 3rd 2011, 12:27
I'll have to disagree. Condemning attacks on Christians implies that the attacks were motivated by religion (or more pertinently, religious extremism).
If the attacks were specifically on atheists, I would demand that the attacks would be described specifically as attacks on atheists.
There is time for general principles. There is also time to condemn specific acts. This is one of them.
Ethelbert Schembri
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:55
Sur Casa ... we should condemn every attack on any human indifferent of which faction of religion s/he is !!...
So as is Sur Casa is saying is that he only represent the christians ... and I thought he was representing us Maltese as Europeans indifferently of any religion !!
Jeremy J Camilleri
Feb 2nd 2011, 15:29
All MAltese are Christians Ethelbert...BIL FORS! lol
Regarding ths subject ..oh well, Join the club, follow the rules...
Dr Francis Saliba
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:53
Dr. David Pollina.
You should have noticed that Christianity, centuries ago, abandoned its share of the mutual violence between Christians and Moslems. It is Islam that TODAY still preaches and pracitces that violence regularly, globally and on an unprecedented scale, not only against all other religions, Christianity included, but even between its own Shiite and Sunni Moslems.
Your comment (YUP and all) is biased, misleading and reflects a cheap anti-Christian
prejudice so intense that it robs your comment of any value.
B. Micallef
Feb 2nd 2011, 16:08
Dr. Saliba - You seem to forget the IRISH CHRISTIAN TERRORISTS - Christian
murder christian. And what about the christian state terrorists who destroyed
Iraq and murdered millions and now they say it was a mistake. PLEASE DO
NOT SAY THEY ARE PEACEKEEPERS, they are christian terrorists.
m.attard
Feb 3rd 2011, 03:25
Doc.
The Papal roots of discrimination.
Specifically, in the fifteenth century, two Papal Bulls set the stage for European domination of the New World and Africa. Romanus Pontifex, issued by Pope Nicholas V to King Alfonso V of Portugal in 1452, declared war against all non-Christians throughout the world, and specifically sanctioned and promoted the conquest, colonization, and exploitation of non-Christian nations and their territories. Inter Caetera, issued by Pope Alexander VI in 1493 to the King and Queen of Spain following the voyage of Christopher Columbus to the island he called Hispaniola, officially established Christian dominion over the New World. It called for the subjugation of the native inhabitants and their territories, and divided all newly discovered or yet-to-be discovered lands into two - giving Spain rights of conquest and dominion over one side of the globe and Portugal over the other.
Ramon Casha
Feb 3rd 2011, 06:42
Already forgotten Yugoslavia? Or didn't you know that the war there was of the Christian majority trying to quash the Muslim minority?
Ah but when it happens in the west we're careful to hide these inconvenient facts.
Dr Francis Saliba
Feb 3rd 2011, 13:44
@B Micallef
Unfortunately, Wars are waged between Christian elements but they are not sanctioned by Christ's teaching in the New Testament Bible. They arise despite official Christian doctrine, not because of it. They have a political not a religious motivation.
The Irish question is concerned with the demand for Irish political independence, denied to them by Cromwell . The demarcation line for the conflict was between British Protestant invaders in the north and indigenous Irish Catholics in the south. Religion is incidental to the political conflict.
Christianity is not involved in the organisation and operation of peace-keeping forces. Those in Africa are often provided by African states and have no relation to Western democracies.
Violence is diametrically opposed to Christ's teaching in the NT bible - love of our neighbours, friends and enemies alike. On the other hand it is the official injunction of the Koran to wage holy war and to destroy all infidels. That extreme violence is main-line Islam as notoriously preached by the Imams in their religious schools. It is a shocking feature of daily life not only in the theocratic Islamist states themselves but it is also inflicted by Moslems into Western democratic states.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:36
David Casa suffers the PN syndrome-that of having difficulties to separate religion from politics. EU plays on a level playground and does not distinguish between religions. We are in it now and we don’t have the luxury to pick and choose the rules of the game to satisfy our religious fanaticism. As you said Mr.Casa, you might as well pack up and come home; alternatively you may put it in your pipe and smoke it.
Edric Micallef Figallo
Feb 2nd 2011, 15:56
Mr. Buttigieg,
The EU what is happening here is not a separation from politics and religion but an added negative discrimination towards Christianity.
MEP David Casa receives my sincere admiration for this. Christians are being persecuted worldwide, and whether some like it or not, Europe owes much to Christianity. There is definite anti-Christian bias in the EU, the latest spat with the calendar lacking Christian holidays whilst including that of other religions is one perfect example. While not being an EU institution, the ridiculous ECHR court judgment against Italy also comes to mind (not to mention that through the Lisbon Treaty the ECHR gains greater standing in the EU legal order). Franco Frattini is no fervent Christian either, his reaction seems sensible. Well done to David Casa.
What is ironic is that the Turkish Deputy PM recently criticised the EU for being a Christian club. Ridiculous.
Mario Camilleri
Feb 2nd 2011, 17:52
And pray what are you suffering from Charles? The lack of the 70s and the 80s when injustices were committed in the place of work you were in? And when you were someone's personal lackey; now retired in a quant little villa smelling the blooms of the coming spring and cursing the government for every little bit of woe that comes its way? I think that instead of wasting your time on facebook going after little girlies, You had better start preparing for life everlasting. Time is very important to redeem yourself and your foolish actions.
James A. Tyrrell
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:27
This is a perfect example of why membership of the EU is a waste of time. People's lives are being ruled over by a bunch of idiots. One wonders what EU High Representative Baroness Catherine Ashton would be doing if she wasn't in the position she is in. Probably serving burgers at Burger King!
Andrew Camilleri
Feb 2nd 2011, 16:24
The comments on this article show that people do not have the slightest idea of how the EU works. Declarations by Catherine Ashton have to be discussed with all foreign ministers of the EU (I wonder what the Maltese Foreign ministy position was about this issue). It was the Nordic countries and the UK who did not agree with the mention of Christianity not CAtherine Ashton!
http://euobserver.com/9/31728
Victor Vella
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:27
If we start giving in to Islam bid to ake over Europe now what would the Learbned Madam do when Turkey eventually joins the EU? Well for one thing nothing not even go outside her houde without a veil covering her face.Mind you she should wear one now to hide her embarassment.Well done David ,
Joe V Scerri
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:26
The typical 'political correctness' that is pushing England to the brink.
This is probably more coming from people with their subtle agenda and which ends up giving fuel to the nationalist extrimism. Give us a break Madame Baroness.
S Calleja Portelli
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:22
@ Jesmond Farrugia.
How can any Muslim be described as being 'truly Christian'? Being Christian means following the teachings of Christ. The Christian faith does not have monopoly on piety; charity, goodwill or any positive human traits so Muslims, Hindus, Bhuddists, Jews or indeed those practising any faith do not have to be 'truly christian' to be good human beings.
Suggesting that piety and charity are solely Christian traits is insulting to all our fellow non-Christians.
Christian, Muslim, Hundu, Jewish etc are simply adjectives in much the same way as Maltese, Italian, Germany are.
Jesmond Micallef
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:21
Maybe violence should be condemned not on a basis of Religous belief but moreso in relation to fellow human beings. It should not make a difference if either a Christian, a Moslem, a Jewish, a Buddhist, etc, is a victim of violence. The common ground here is the human being, the welfare of the human being. This is a responsibility bestowed upon us, the human race, and our spiritual beliefs should not in any manner threaten that. Some people call this tolerance, but tolerance to what, I dare ask ? To fellow human beings ? Mutual respect is more likely the key here !!
Maybe EU High Representative Baroness Catherine Ashton has a point in this regard.
Charles Sammut
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:13
I will only take Mr Casa seriously when he starts condemning and doing something concrete about the Islamisation of Europe. Until such time, his is just hollow talk, intended for local consumption.
R. Muscat
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:12
Well Done David! Stick to our tradition.
C Ellul
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:10
This is the in the same spirit that made the EU non Christian believers forget all about Christian Holy days. Politically incorrect is the not the word Christianity but the non Christian attitudes towards responsible behaviuor that many EU parliamentarians have been showing.
Keep it up and ,together with all the Maltese EU representatives and John Dalli , declare our Christian Catholic Values, we are proud of these values.
B. Micallef
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:10
David, Where were you when the israelis killed so many innocent people
on the aid ship to Gaza ?? The bombing of Lebanon and the bombing of the
Gaza strip ??? The christians and the muslims both have their hands
full of blood in the name of their gods. The EU parliament and local
politics should be free of ANY RELIGIONS. In my opinion politicians
use religion to win votes and in fact the PN makes huge electoral gain
from it. Hallina David dont use relgions ! U tabilhaqq in Ireland christians
murder their fellow christians and they are christian terrorist.
Mario Borg
Feb 2nd 2011, 15:43
Mr Micallef, I'm afraid you are misinformed. The EU has condemned Israel several times over acts of violence and discrimination including the boarding and violence on the aid ship http://europa.eu/news/external-relations/2010/05/event_en.htm
You mention many violent events but this doesn't remove the fact that the attacks on Christian minorities in Egypt were wrong and should be condemned.
B. Micallef
Feb 2nd 2011, 16:23
Mario Borg - We want action not words. I agree, the attack on Christians in Eygpt
is wrong and unacceptable. ALL VIOLENCE IS WRONG WHEREEVER IT COMES
FROM. I agree that religous freedom is a human right. But the EU and America
use double standard and no one can deny it.
Andrea Demarco
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:07
Perfect reply from Mr. Casa.
The events being discussed were about targeted Christians - I see no reason to hide this fact. Christians here were the victims. It would be politically incorrect to hide this in the way Ms. Ashton suggests.
Tolerance and transparency should not hide the acts of radical fanatics. They have to be brought to justice, and the fact that the act WAS against a Christian minority is a LOT more than circumstantial evidence.
Mistakes have been done in the past by Christians. And they are recognized by everybody, Christians and non-Christians. This does not give a go-ahead to some sick fanatics to blow other people up.
As politically sensitive as the EU has to be in these times, it definitely should not make the EU bow down to anything coming from a different culture. Whatever the stakes are. There is nothing to understand about giving up everything about the history, culture, methods, ways of life of the European block, just to look transparent to the world. We are Europeans. That's why we're in a union that does not include other non-European countries. We have to protect our own.
Denis Carabott
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:07
Congratulations Hon. Mr Casa,
What you say always makes sense. Christians have a right to defend themselves like everyone else. Our duty of love and forgiveness does not entitle us to be imbeciles.
Keep it up and keep being useful as an MEP.
I don't think you have reached your full potential yet ,but given time, you will.
Denis Carabott.
Joseph Stafrace
Feb 2nd 2011, 13:56
From day one this woman didn't impress anyone and it seems she hasn't any diplomatic experience.
Is it politically correct giving permission to built large mosques all over Europe when the building of churches is being denied in all the muslim countries? Wake up Europe before it is to late.
Adrian Wirth
Feb 2nd 2011, 13:53
Cultural differences Mr Casa - England ain't the same and don't think the same.
Could be reason why Brittain no longer Great. Political correctness in the UK has a strangle hold on free speech, liberty of action even freedom of expression within areas such as local government, health, education and generally from top to bottom throughout the Public Service structure. Some time ago there was an example of a hospital A&E unit that had felt the need to have all signage in more than ten languages as the administrator felt that to do otherwise might offend racial minorities, they missed out English. The EU is secular, was secular and can only survive as a secular structure. You know that as well as others. Perhaps it is this particular situation that has brought home to you what are and have been the facts of EU life.
William Borg Barthet
Feb 2nd 2011, 13:52
The days of Christendom are long gone. Europe does not equal Christianity and Christianity does not equal Europe. While the acts were deplorable and belly-aching over political correctness is farcical, David's mention of "fellow Christians" and "who the EU represents" are clearly misinformed as the last Eurostat survey on the subject showed that only 52% of Europeans believe in God. That 52% has to be further split into the sizeable Muslim, Jewish and Hindu minorites in Europe. The old idea that Europe stands for Christianity is dead.
Dr Francis Saliba
Feb 2nd 2011, 15:09
It is not statistics that are most important here. Everyone knows that statistics are good or bad, like sausages, upon those who draw them up. It is a great pity that some uninformed people swallow them without being able to analyze them critically for their value. There are lies, damn big lies and statistics - and of these the last mentioned are worst of all. No matter what they "show", they cannot disprove that the present superiority of Western culture owes its existence to two millenia of Christianity, warts and all.
Kenneth Cassar
Feb 2nd 2011, 13:50
I find nothing "politically incorrect" about using the word "Christian" when the target of the atrocities in this case are actually none other than Christians. Even an atheist can agree with that.
Andrew Farrugia
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:34
@ Kenneth Cassar
Well said!
At least, you possess the intellectual honesty to disapprove of such shenanigans that take place regularly within certain EU spheres, aimed at censoring the use of the words Christian/ Christianity/ Catholic etc. And then some top EU bigwigs would like to have us believe that the deletion of Christmas from the diaries donated to schools was an unfortunate slip; who do they think they are fooling? There is evidence that some radical secularists would like to eliminate all references (including signs and symbols) to religion from public discourse. My simple answer is "they will not succeed"; time will tell.
o.galea
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:40
@ K. Cassar....
well said.
Ramon Casha
Feb 3rd 2011, 06:39
Certainly... as long as we're prepared to issue identical statements and condemnations whenever any group is targeted anywhere, because if you miss one out then the EU will be shown to care about attacks on "group X" more than "group Y".
Kenneth Cassar
Feb 3rd 2011, 12:20
@ Andrew Farrugia:
Thanks. Like I always say, I have no use for "political correctness", especially when abused for political motives.
Kenneth Cassar
Feb 3rd 2011, 16:36
@ Ramon Casha:
Agreed.
MBorg
Feb 2nd 2011, 13:50
Well said. The trouble is that Baroness Catherine Aston represents the UK. We all know that the term " politically correct " is being carried to the extrem in England.
The British Christian population is at a disavantage in their own country. They have to be " politically correct " and give in to the demands of the Muslim community. It is " politically incorrect "for the British Christians to wear a small cross as it migh offend Muslim workers.
It would be better if Baroness Aston keeps in mind that Europe is mainly Christian.
j.zammit
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:04
for now...
talk to me in 10 years time
David Schembri
Feb 2nd 2011, 13:49
Yes I do agree that 'You should all just pack and go home' You're all disgusting - 400,000 euros annually incl. wages and all the perks under the sun and all you are - a bunch of pen pushers. I remember a wise Prime Minister's words who once said that all they do is warm their benches. I regret every penny of VAT that I pay towards getting any of you in the EU parliament!!
Jesmond Farrugia
Feb 2nd 2011, 13:47
Baroness Ashton is clearly very keen to avoid upsetting Turkish and perhaps wider Pan Arab sensibilities. These are tenuous times and in a sense one can understand her position.
I know many Muslims who are truly christian in their piety and acts of charity and to even hint that these are somehow tainted by the actions of their fellow religionists is quite possibly slanderous.
Such a position would certainly benefit extremists on both sides of the fence. This in turn, would mean that more resources are squandered on determining the exact position of the fence, as an elaborate game of fence sitting is played.
There is only ONE way to combat extremism, and that is example and education.
Kenneth Cassar
Feb 2nd 2011, 13:58
"I know many Muslims who are truly christian in their piety and acts of charity".
With all your unquestionably good intentions, I don't think many Muslims would appreciate your calling their piety and acts of charity "Christian". Just imagine how you would feel if someone told you that you are truly a Muslim in your piety and acts of charity.
This is not to criticize you, but to raise your consciousness. I hope it is taken in the good spirit it is intended.
wally vella-zarb
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:33
"I know many Muslims who are truly christian in their piety and acts of charity"
Hold on a second! You are implying that "piety and acts of charity" are a monopoly of christianity. How arrogant, preposterous and presumptuous!
J Farrugia
Feb 2nd 2011, 13:46
Shame on this Lady Ashton. Politically correct humbug. Just take a look at the mirror Lady shame Ashton. How dares she insult us catholics. First they dumped Buttiglione because he was a catholic, now they are not even condemning islamic attacks on our catholic and Christian religions. Shame on the EU Ministers shame on the whole of the EU. And then they have the guts to fine us and take us to court for shooting birds in spring. Shame on the whole Eu for accepting abortions, euthanasia, divorce, and all the abominations of the human being, while not protecting the innocents as well as the catholics. Let's all do something about it. How about a protest when some bigwig from the EU comes here. Tell them they are not welcome any more in Malta.
Kenneth Cassar
Feb 2nd 2011, 13:55
Let's not get overboard, shall we? I'm with David Casa on this one. The "Buttiglione" case is a different matter. He wasn't dumped because he was Catholic, but because some of his views would have presented a conflict of interest. And I don't believe Lady Ashton insulted any Catholics.
wally vella-zarb
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:36
Better still, Mr Farrugia, why don't you go there and protest in person...and stay in Brussels until they take notice?
edwin formosa
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:40
She is one of the Modern Inquisitors being fuelled by a vicious secularism that allows no tolerance for views based on Christian values. They accept all secularist views as "statements of the obvious" while considering religious views as "notions of the mind." And clever judges are following suit. Peter Hitchens, the brother of militant atheist Christopher, had this to say :
“The Public Order Act of 1986 was not meant to permit the arrest of Christian preachers in English towns for quoting from the Bible. But it has,"
"The Civil Partnerships Act 2004 was not meant to force public servants to approve of homosexuality. But it has.
“The Sexual Offences Act of 1967 was not meant to lead to a state of affairs where it is increasingly dangerous to say anything critical about homosexuality. But it did.”
He added, “We have traveled in almost no time from repression, through a brief moment of mutual tolerance, to a new repression.”
J Farrugia
Feb 2nd 2011, 16:33
@ Kenneth Cassar - The Buttiglione case was just that: that he was a catholic and a staunch catholic at that. And that he was one of the Late Pope John Paul II advisors. That is why these buffoons who sit in the UE Parliament decided to dump him.
Kenneth Cassar
Feb 3rd 2011, 12:17
@ J Farrugia:
Believe that if you wish. The question remains: Was he "dumped" democratically? You'll have to agree (if you are honest) that the answer is yes. It took a vote, after all.
John Cassar
Feb 2nd 2011, 13:46
Prosit David! Int l-MEP li minghajr daqq ta' trombi dejjem irraprezentajt lill-poplu Malti u Ghawdxi bl-ahjar mod possibli. Keep it up
John Caruana
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:56
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ah ha ha ha ha. Next joke.
Philip Gauci
Feb 2nd 2011, 16:02
Well said John Cassar, the truth hurts for certain people......
David Galea
Feb 2nd 2011, 13:45
Dear David Casa,
I totally agree with you.
I do expect that we tollerat the Muslems but I also expect that we Christians would be given the same treatment from the Muslems.
Dear Baroness Catherine Ashton it seems to me that you are not doing your job well.
Dr Francis Saliba
Feb 2nd 2011, 13:41
Nothing correct, politically and in all other senses, in being intentionally vague and ambiguous.
joe felice pace
Feb 2nd 2011, 13:40
Well done David. Keep up the pressure. It seems that these so-called Europeans have conveniently forgotten that today's democratic Europe is the fruit of Christianity. Its founding fathers were the most loyal Christians who never felt shy of proclaiming the beliefs that nurtured their zeal for a united continent.
Dr. David Pollina
Feb 2nd 2011, 13:49
Yup. And killing followers of any other religion who got in the way of their crusades.
To defeat Muslim extremism today, it is necessary to recognise Christian extremism of the past and learn from it's mistakes, not repeat them.
K Zammit
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:20
Dr. Pollina
Christian extremism today is virtually non existent so your comment is totally superfluous. I agree it was extremism in the past during the times of the crusades and nobody here is upholding that attitude. Dr. Pollina you'd better take a closer look at the Muslim extremism today which is a blatant reality and condemn that attitude rather than criticize the Christians. Your last comment baffles me ? 'and learn from it's mistakes, not repeat them'
Repeat them ????? Repeat them by using the word 'Christian' in a continent that is for the large majority Christian ? Are you serious ? ................I am even starting to doubt why I even bothered to express my views your ridiculous comments.
Chris Ripard
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:21
Christians today no longer burn people at the stake etc. they DID learn from their mistakes. Muslims, on the other hand, still treat women like cattle, flog/behead people in public and love a good stoning.
Who exactly needs to reform, pray?
Tony Mizzi
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:36
@ DR. Pollina .. Let's live today's world. Christians cruiside happenned long time ago, in the middle ages. Undoubtly wrong, but Christainity changed a lot from those days.
Perhaps, the same thing can't be said for your believed Muslims.
C Gatt
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:44
Ah Yes... Europe - the fruit of Christianity ..... I remember it well: the Holocaust, St Bartholomew's Day Massacre, The Jewish Ghettos, Savonarola, Galileo, the Crusades.. ah yes, a great heritage . LOL
Jason Borg
Feb 2nd 2011, 17:07
Dr. Pollina - there is a nation which has a lot to answer about extremism as well - such as enclosing another NATION in a concrete wall. Shame they never learn.
Bernard Cachia Zammit
Feb 2nd 2011, 17:24
@K Zammit
"Christian extremism today is virtually non existent"
Really? Well take a look at this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church
The famous Westboro Baptist Church, the sect that believes the rest of the world is evil and only they are good. People who think of themselves as the perfect Christians and hate everybody. And this article as well:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_terrorism
Hardy good Christians, eh?
Joe Cassar
Feb 2nd 2011, 17:56
Democracy only became possible when temporal power was wrested (sometimes bloodily) from the hand of the theocrats - of any denomination.
Democracy and religion are incompatible.
Jason Borg
Feb 2nd 2011, 18:18
So according to Bernard Cachia Zammit, billions of Christians around the world can be judged by the website of an insignificant sect. This is a big LOL indeed!!!
Jason Borg
Feb 2nd 2011, 18:40
@ C. Gatt - do not make sweeping statements. The holocaust was the work of an atheist state which tried to eradicate Christianity and any other form of opposition.
Bernard Cachia Zammit
Feb 2nd 2011, 19:00
@ Jason Borg
I do not judge the whole of Christianity as in every religion you'd find tolerant and intolerant people. I just object to the statement said. When I said "Hardly good Christians" I was referring to these intolerant Christians.
Bernard Cachia Zammit
Feb 2nd 2011, 19:32
@Jason Borg
I was just pointing out that Christian extremism is not as K Zammit said 'none existant' but it is still strong and very much exists.
Bernard Cachia Zammit
Feb 3rd 2011, 21:04
@ Jason Borg
Really? Are now a Hitler expert? If you must know, Hitler was a deist. He certainly believed in an active deity. There are many references to God in his speeches and in the Mein Kampf. He hardly was a Christian but he certainly was not an atheist. And what are you going to prove by saying Hitler was an atheist? That all atheists are evil? Using your same argument, I could say that all people with facial hair are evil as Hitler, Stalin, Saddam Hussein had facial hair, so people with facial hair are evil.