Italy's disputed candidate for the post of EU justice and security commissioner, whose condemnation of homosexuality has created a storm, said today that he would prefer to walk away from the job rather than compromise his Catholic beliefs.

Rocco Buttiglione, a 56-year-old philosopher and political scientist with close ties to the Pope, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I don't know if I have the faith to have my head cut off for my beliefs, but I have enough faith to renounce a job in the Commission if need be."

Signor Buttiglione was due to become European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security on November 1, giving him overall control of EU policy on civil rights, discrimination, racism, drug addiction and border control.

But he outraged the gay community when he told his confirmation hearing last week that he believed homosexuality was a sin. "I may think that homosexuality is a sin, but this has no effect on politics - unless I say that homosexuality is a crime," he said.

On Monday, the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee voted to reject Signore Buttiglione because of his views. It was the first time MEPs had ever voted against a nominee.

But the Parliament has no power to reject individual candidates put forward by José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and can only reject all candidates en bloc – which would include Britain's openly gay candidate for Trade Commissioner - Peter Mandelson.

Leaders of the Parliament yesterday backed away from direct confrontation over Signor Buttiglione's nomination, passing the buck back to Senhor Barroso.

Asked whether the row could endanger the endorsement of the whole Commission, Signor Buttiglione told the BBC: ""This is a matter of speculation."

When asked if was prepared to stand down, he added: "There is no doubt, I think, it is better for the European Parliament and for Europe to have a man of conscience but if I should be discriminated (against) because I am a Catholic, I prefer to remain a Catholic.

"I have said what I had to say and to do. Now the question is entirely out of my hands. It is in the hands of the European Parliament and of course in the hands of Barroso."

The row has aggravated the already-strained relations between the European Parliament and the Government of Silvio Bersluconi, the Italian Prime Minister.

Signor Berlusconi - who angered MEPs last year by comparing a German parliamentarian to a concentration camp guard - this week accused them of "fundamentalism, if not obscurantism" in their rejection of the Italian.

One of Signor Berlusconi's ministers - Mirko Tremaglia, 78, stirred up the pot even more yesterday with a statement on official government notepaper, saying: "Poor Europe: the bum-boys are in the majority."

Italian commentators say that the obvious implication of Signor Buttiglione's rejection is that no practising or devout Catholic could take up a senior post in the EU unless they disowned key Vatican dogma.

But Signor Buttiglione said today: "I think that many people are sinners, including myself, and I don't think them to be worse sinners than myself. It is a theological issue and it should not interfere with our policies."

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