Free Republic

A friend emails thoughts on the recent firing of a transportation commissioner in Maryland for remarks about homosexuality: Back in 2004, Rocco Buttiglione was nominated to be the commissioner of justice on the newly formed European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union. A distinguished political philosopher and a friend and confidante of Pope John Paul II, Buttiglione had a long and admirable career of public service, but various members of the European Parliament objected vehemently to Buttiglione’s views on homosexuality. A Roman Catholic, Buttiglione had said publicly that he believed that homosexual conduct was immoral. He was quick...

How, then, did we get to the point where such power is wielded by those who, in the name of freedom, deny us the right to preserve our historic traditions? A foreign friend once asked me what the American Civil Liberties Union stood for. I sarcastically said, “None of the above.” But the more I pondered that response the more I realized how true it is. It is certainly not American because it denies both the worldview that framed America’s founding documents and denies a vast majority of Americans the right to enjoy their festivals the way they always have...

How goes the culture war? Posted: November 15, 2004 1:00 a.m. Eastern © 2004 Creators Syndicate, Inc. Evangelical Christians and traditional Catholics who trooped to the polls in 11 states to reject the legalization of marriage between homosexuals are celebrating a great victory in America's culture war. And understandably so. With "moral values" the surprise issue in campaign 2004, the Red States and George Bush prevailed by 3.5 million votes. Onward Christian soldiers. Yet, within the West, in the ancient struggle for moral supremacy between secularism and Christianity, Christianity remains in retreat. Consider the moral condition of the cradle of...

Of God and MenUnlike America's, Europe's political establishment is hostile to Christianity. BY ROCCO BUTTIGLIONE Wednesday, November 10, 2004 12:01 a.m. EST ROME--George W. Bush concluded his election victory speech with "God bless America." It's likely that in the European Parliament, the U.S. president would be considered unfit for his job on account of his religious beliefs. Even worse, for Europe's legislators, would be that he's not ashamed to express those beliefs so clearly and so publicly.

ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, seeking to defuse an unprecedented crisis in the EU executive, said Rocco Buttiglione would most likely be replaced as Italy's candidate for the European Commission. "Buttiglione will remain a minister (in the Italian government). I think that is the way it is going to end up," Berlusconi told reporters late on Friday after a hectic day of discussions among Europe's leaders. "It is useless to deny that this is the most likely outcome after the meetings that we have had here today," he said of Buttiglione, 56, Italy's European Affairs minister. The...