Stop Your Co-opting

[erikred]

In this article from the BBC, Rocco Buttiglione, a former candidate for EU commissioner whose name is not the least bit funny so stop snickering, reports that he feels like a "Catholic Witch" for being rejected by the EU Parliament on account of his making disparaging remarks about single mothers and gays.

Mr. Buttliglione, you are not a witch at the center of a PC witch-hunt. You are a bigot. You are not being rejected because of your religious beliefs; you are being rejected because you refuse to treat all human beings as equals. There are oodles of Catholics who understand that fine line between what one believes personally and how one acts/reacts toward other people. Are you allowed to say what you think and believe? Of course! Do your beliefs make you fit to be a commissioner of the EU? No, they do not. There are consequences to acting on your beliefs, and no matter what the After School Specials would tell you, they don't always turn out well for you in the end. Deal.

Comments

[tagryn]

"There are oodles of Catholics who understand that fine line between what one believes personally and how one acts/reacts toward other people."

I think that's what Buttiglione said: "Many things may be considered immoral which should not be prohibited," he said as he was quizzed on his views of homosexuality. "I may think that homosexuality is a sin, and this has no effect on politics, unless I say that homosexuality is a crime." I read that as saying that as a commissioner he would treat all citizens as equals according to the law, regardless of his personal belief about whether their conduct was commendable or not. If that's not enough, I'm very worried that the alternative is making sure everyone eligible is following Right-Think and having Just The Right Beliefs, or else. Doesn't leave much room for diversity of opinion.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

Pardon me while i steal from Scott Adams: The more opinions we have, diverse it gets.

[erikred.livejournal.com]

Actually, in addition to his well-spoken words on how his beliefs on homosexuality will have no effect on politics, he also said that “the family exists to allow women to have children and be protected by their husbands” and that “I am ready to seek dialogue, which is normal in a democracy, but if a proposal is contrary to my moral principles I would oppose it.” Again, this is reasonable and yet still reason enough not to have him as an EU commissioner, especially one for human rights. If he had said that his personal beliefs influence his thinking but that he would be willing to examine all proposals with fairness and equality, few reasonable people could fault him.

I realize that this a modification of my strongly worded condemnation of his fitness to be an EU commissioner on the basis of his beliefs, and that works for me.