Sir, Leaving aside Rocco Buttiglione’s comments on women and single mothers, and indeed his overall suitability for the position of EU justice commissioner (report, October 22), the controversy generated by his nomination seems to show that, in the Europe of 2004, to hold and express orthodox Christian beliefs on sexual morality may debar one from office.

In the eyes of the majority of the world’s Christians, homosexuality is a sin; they believe this to be the clear teaching of the Bible. Whether or not one agrees with this view, this furore demonstrates that the political culture of the European Union is now explicitly and avowedly secular and “post-Christian”.

The irony is that many of those lampooning Signor Buttiglione are no doubt the same people who are falling over themselves to welcome Turkey into the fold, as a demonstration of their politically correct stance towards Islam — a religion that (in their terms) is as intolerant towards homosexuality as Signor Buttiglione himself.

Yours faithfully,
PETER WILLIAMS,
19 Green Street, Oxford OX4 1YB.
pdg__williams@hotmail.com
October 22.

From Mrs Nicholas Bagshawe

Sir, I disagree with Matthew Parris (Comment, October 23; see also Comment, October 25). We need more people in public life whose statements reflect their private beliefs. These people are normally called honest. Those who divorce what they do from what they think are normally called hypocrites.

Yours faithfully,
DAPHNE BAGSHAWE,
Toad Hall, Rotherfield TN6 3QU.
October 25.

From Mr Larry Rushton

Sir, I know nothing of Signor Buttiglione yet, as “European” commissioner, he automatically becomes “my” commissioner, “our” commissioner, “your” commissioner, even Matthew Parris’s commissioner, indeed Panjandrum of justice from Granada to Helsinki.

Could anything better symbolise the alien fatuity of the EU’s institutions? I dare say the Greeks feel similarly about “their” new commissioner for trade, Mr Peter Mandelson.

Yours sincerely,
LARRY RUSHTON,
Serendip,
32310, Maignaut Tauzia, France.
October 24.

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