The end of Christendom seems to be approaching, as today's Europe continues to change drastically in terms of social morality and politics. Catholicism throughout its history had always managed to have strong authority in Europe, however, this authority is waivering and has lost its momentum.

Last week, the devoted Catholic nominee for the post of European Union's Justice and Home Affairs commissioner, Rocco Buttiglione was rejected by Members of European Parliament (MEPs), as he publicly stated that homosexuality is a “sin” and gays should not be given special rights. The issue has drawn the concern of the Vatican.

Previously this month, there were moves to legalise gay marriage in Spain and ban religious symbols in French schools. All these have provoked a saying that the sense of anti-Catholic discrimination is rising in Europe.

Cardinal Renato Martino, Head of the Vatican’s Council for Justice and Peace, says there is an anti-Catholic “Inquisition” in Europe. The Pope blasted moral relativism and recently said that it was threatening democracy.

José Manuel Barroso, the new European commission president, who backs Rocco Buttiglione, yesterday again, defied MEPs’ calls to dump Rocco Buttiglione, despite the fact that MEPs would vote against his entire commission.

Previously, Rocco Buttiglione had been trying his best to insist on his Catholic faith, saying, “I will not prostitute my conscience ... I'm not going to sell [my ideas] short for a post as a commissioner."

However, in face of pressure from all the MEPs, Rocco Buttiglione apologised for creating uproar in the European Parliament, when he called homosexuality a sin. He also denied having made comments denigrating the role of women and said he was being victimised by the media.

The president added, “Regarding this issue as a holy war is the last thing Europe needs.”

“I don’t believe there will be a Catholic/non-Catholic split or one between secular and Christian Europe,” he stressed.

While the Italian politicians are trying to defend the Catholic faith in the EU, Sergio Romano, a political commentator on the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, however lamented that the Catholic Church had been trying its best to defend themselves and live in a stage of siege, this is however a tragic end of papacy.

Regarding the dilemma he said: the Catholic Church expected Catholics to behave as obedient children of the Pope, when as citizens of Europe they must be sceptical and questioning as they work for the common good. He said, “it is not easy to switch between the two.”

“The Pope has conquered the world in his own image but he is losing the battle in Europe.”