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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.
Download the FAQ as a PDF file »
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 |
