EU
Committee Rejects Anti-Gay
Rights Commissioner
by Malcolm Thornberry, 365Gay.com from the Web, October 11, 2004
Brussels -- The incoming European Union's Commissioner for Justice has received a thumbs down from Parliament's civil liberties committee over statements that homosexuality "is a sin".
But it may not be enough to prevent him from taking office.
Rocco Buttiglione made the statements last week during his confirmation hearing in the European Parliament.
But, said that his personal feelings would have no impact on his decisions.
However, he failed to explain why he had sought to remove from the Charter of Fundamental Rights non-discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.
Buttiglione also defended the traditional notion of heterosexual marriage with men in the role of protector of women.
"The family exists to allow a woman to have children and to be protected by her husband," Buttiglione told the hearing.
The remarks angered gay rights leaders in countries throughout the EU and raised red flags among many of Europe's MEPs.
As minister of Justice, Buttiglione would be in charge of protecting the rights of gay citizens.
The civil liberties committee voted by 27 to 26 to reject Buttiglione. But he has the support of the legal affairs committee.
The choice of commissioners is up to the new European Commission president, Jose Manuel Durao Barroso of Portugal.
The president is not bound by the parliament's opinion.
If he proceeds to put Buttiglione in office all Parliament could do is hold a non confidence vote in Barroso and his administration.
Buttiglione is from Gallipoli in southern Italy and is a philosophy professor.
He is a devout Catholic and a personal friend of Pope John Paul II even learning Polish in order to read the Pope's works in the original.
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