letter to the editor from Richard Corbett MEP

31 March 2005

Yorkshire Post

Sir,

It seems Keith Johnston has some concerns about the place of religion in the European Union and its proposed new constitution (letters, 30 March). Perhaps the following points will reassure him?

The constitution recognises our rich “religious and humanist” heritage, which seems to cover all the bases. But nowhere does it state that “humanism [is] the ethical basis of the European Union”. In fact, it explicitly commits us to respecting Europe’s cultural and religious diversity when we take decisions at European level (Article 82).

As for the old myth about rejecting a Catholic Commissioner, we certainly did not vote against Rocco Buttiglione because he was a Catholic! Religion didn’t come into it. After all, several other Commissioners are also devout Catholics – this really isn’t a problem.

But Mr Buttiglione expressed views about homosexuality, women and the family which ran directly counter to the fundamental principles of equality already agreed by all EU countries. Incidentally, many Christians also found his views unacceptable. He was, of course, entitled to express them, but he was not entitled to let them affect his decisions as a Commissioner – and he was unable to guarantee that he would not.

MEPs from several parties therefore felt unable to give him a vote of confidence, and the President of the Commission responded by withdrawing his nomination. Quite how this could be seen as a victory for humanism over Christianity is a mystery to me!

Richard Corbett MEP

Labour spokesman on EU constitutional affairs