| Italy's new European commissioner for justice introduced himself to the parliament in Brussels yesterday by describing homosexuality as a sin and defending calls for asylum camps in north Africa. But Rocco Buttiglione promised that his personal beliefs would not affect the way he does his job. Mr Buttiglione, the commissioner-designate for justice and home affairs, and a close friend of Pope John Paul II, told MEPs: "I may think that homosexuality is a sin; this has no effect on politics unless I say that homosexuality is a crime." He added: "The rights of homosexuals should be defended on the same basis as the rights of all other European citizens. I would not accept the idea that homosexuals are a category apart." |