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Introduction
To what extent can elected officials and public servants express private religious beliefs? That issue informed not only the U.S. presidential election, but the recent nomination of Rocco Buttiglione, Italy’s European Affairs Minister, to the European Commission. Buttiglione, a member of the Acton Institute Board of Advisors, withdrew his nomination in the face of withering criticism from rival politicians, secularists and the media.
In this special section, the Acton Institute has assembled a variety of resources that take a closer look at the Buttiglione controversy. These resources include official transcripts, interviews, news articles and pieces Buttiglione has written for Acton.
Articles About Rocco Buttiglione
“Buttiglione Foresees a Europe of Strong Faith,” by Rocco Buttiglione,
ZENIT.org, January 12, 2005.
“Buttiglione Case: Europe on Life-Support,” by George Weigel,
ZENIT.org, December 15, 2004
“White House snubs European friend,” by Robert Novak,
Chicago Sun-Times, December 13, 2004
“Buttiglione cites 'anti-Christian' fad,” by Marion Baillot,
The Washington Times, December 12, 2004
“Targeting Faith – Europe Copies U.S.,” by William McGurn,
New York Post, December 8, 2004.
“The secular inquisition,” by Samuel Gregg,
The Washington Times, December 8, 2004.
“'Borked' European leader wins U.S. award,”
WorldNetDaily.com, December 8, 2004.
“Embattled European Politician to Receive Award,” CatholicExchange, December 7, 2004.
“Embattled European Politician to Receive Acton Institute Award; After Politically Correct 'Borking' Rocco Buttigilione Visits U.S.,”
Acton Institute Press Releases, December 7, 2004.
“Acuciado político europeo recibirá el premio del Instituto Acton; después de haber sido políticamente echazado al estilo “Borking”*, Rocco Buttiglione visita los EE.UU.,” (Spanish)
Acton Institute Press Releases, December 7, 2004.
“Buttiglione plans Christian lobby,”
BBC News World Edition, December 2, 2004.
“Don't discount moral views,” by John Leo,
U.S. News & World Report, November 29, 2004
“Interview: MEP thought police sought ‘conscience control’ - Buttiglione,” by Bruno Waterfield,
EUpolitix.com, November 18, 2004.
“Sins of Commission” by Christopher Caldwell,
The Weekly Standard, November 15, 2004.
“Buttiglione: 'Out with the Christian, in with the Freemason',” by Lisbeth Kirk,
EUobserver.com, November 10, 2004.
“Buttiglione backs 'theo-con' aims,”
BBC News, Monday, 8 November, 2004.
“Buttiglione bows out to resolve EU crisis,” (Subscription Only) by Bruce Johnston,
Telegraph, October 31, 2004.
“The Excommunication of Rocco Buttiglione,” by Nick Spencer,
licc Connecting with Culture, October 29, 2004.
“La deriva laicista” (Italian) by Flavio Felice,
L'Araldo Abruzzese, October 24, 2004.
“Profile: Rocco Buttiglione,”
BBC News, Thursday, 21 October, 2004.
Transcripts of Buttiglione Hearings
Official Transcripts of the European Commission
Committee on Legal Affairs
Brussels, October 5-6, 2004
Hearings for Rocco Buttiglione,
Commissioner-Designate for Justice, Freedom and Security
October 5 (Multi-lingual transcript – 740 Kb
)
October 5 (English only transcript – 560 Kb
)
October 6 (Multi-lingual transcript – 396 Kb
)
October 6 (English only transcript – 320 Kb
)
Although Mr. Buttiglione has been accused of being discriminatory toward women, homosexuals, immigrants, and non-Christians, there is no evidence to support any of these charges. He fully supports the European Union charter’s non-discrimination principle and has pledged to uphold it.
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Bio
Rocco Buttiglione was born on June 6, 1948 in Gallipoli (province of Lecce), Italy. He studied law in Turin and Rome, where he took his degree with a thesis in the history of political doctrines. He became an assistant to his academic advisor, Professor Augusto Del Noce and collaborated with Del Noce for many years. He is married and the father of four daughters.
His main intellectual concerns have been philosophy, social ethics, economics, and politics. He has held professorships at the International Academy of Philosophy in Liechtenstein and Saint Pius V University in Rome and has been a member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Science. He has lectured internationally and is on the editorial boards of many Italian and foreign journals.
In the early 1990s, Buttiglione helped to form an Italian political party, the Christian Democratic Union and since 1994 has served in the Chamber of Deputies in the Italian Parliament. Since 1999 he has been a member of the European Parliament, and in 2001 he was appointed by Italy’s President Silvio Berlusconi to be Minister of European Affairs. He also serves on the Acton Institute's board of advisors.
Articles & Papers Written By Rocco Buttiglione
“Of God and Men,” by Rocco Buttiglione, OpinionJournal.com,
The Wallstreet Journal, November 10, 2004.
“Così una democrazia con forti radici spirituali ha generato uno Stato laico,” (Italian) by Rocco Buttiglione,
Il Foglio, November 6, 2004
“Text of Buttiglione's mea culpa,” by Rocco Buttiglione,
EUbusiness.com, October 21, 2004.
“The Moral Mandate for Freedom: Reflections on Centesimus Annus,” by Rocco Buttiglione,
Acton Institute, 1997 |
