Who Is Harry Knox?

Member of Obama’s Advisory Council On Faith-Based And Neighborhood Partnerships Has Repeatedly Attacked Catholics!

LAST APRIL, OBAMA APPOINTED HARRY KNOX TO WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL DEDICATED TO HELPING AMERICANS “NO MATTER THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS”

On April 6, 2009, President Obama Appointed Harry Knox To Be A Member Of His Advisory Council On Faith-Based And Neighborhood Partnerships. (The White House, “President Obama Announces Additional Members Of Advisory Council On Faith-Based And Neighborhood Partnerships,” Press Release, 4/6/09

Obama’s “White House Office Of Faith-Based And Neighborhood Partnerships Will Work On Behalf Of Americans Committed To Improving Their Communities, No Matter Their Religious Or Political Beliefs.” (The White House, “Obama Announces White House Office Of Faith-Based And Neighborhood Partnerships,” Press Release, 2/5/09)

BUT KNOX HAS REPEATEDLY ATTACKED THE CATHOLIC FAITH, DOCTRINE

Knox Says Pope Benedict XVI And Catholic Doctrine On Contraception Is “Hurting People In The Name Of Jesus.” “‘The Pope’s statement that condoms don’t help control the spread of HIV, but rather condoms increase infection rates, is hurting people in the name of Jesus,’ said Harry Knox, director of the Human Rights Campaign’s Religion & Faith Program.” (“Human Rights Campaign Responds To Pope Benedict’s Remarks That Condoms Increase HIV Infections,” HRC.org, 3/17/09)

During California Marriage Ballot Initiative Debate, Knox Called Knights Of Columbus “Foot Soldiers Of A Discredited Army Of Oppression.” “Harry Knox, the religion and faith program director for the Human Rights Campaign, said … ‘The Knights of Columbus … in this particular case … were foot soldiers of a discredited army of oppression,’ Knox told the B.A.R. , referring to its role in the Prop 8 campaign.” (Dan Aiello, “Catholic Bishops Revealed As Key In Marriage Battle,” The Bay Area Reporter, 03/19/09)

And Called Pope Benedict XVI And Catholic Bishops “Discredited Leaders.” “Knox noted that the Knights of Columbus ‘followed discredited leaders,’ including bishops and Pope Benedict XVI. ‘A pope who literally today said condoms don’t help in control of AIDS,’ Knox said Tuesday, shortly after the pope’s comments were released.” (Dan Aiello, “Catholic Bishops Revealed As Key In Marriage Battle,” The Bay Area Reporter, 03/19/09)

After Local Catholic Church In Wyoming Denied Communion To Gay Couple, Knox Attacked Church For Being “Immoral And Insulting To Jesus” And Committing “Spiritual And Emotional Violence.” “The couple, who were married in Canada, spoke out in opposition to a Wyoming bill that would deny the recognition of marriage rights for same-sex couples in the state. As a result, church officials said explicitly that the couple were denied communion due to their advocacy for marriage equality … [Knox said,] ‘In this holy Lenten season, it is immoral and insulting to Jesus to use the body and blood of Christ the reconciler as a weapon to silence free speech and demean the love of a committed, legally married couple. The Human Rights Campaign grieves with the couple, Leah Vader and Lynne Huskinson, over this act of spiritual and emotional violence perpetrated against them.’” (“Human Rights Campaign Responds To Catholic Church Barring Same-Sex Couple From Receiving ‘The Body Of Christ’” HRC.org 4/6/07)

DESPITE ATTACKS, OBAMA “COMFORTABLE” WITH KNOX AS FAITH-BASED ADVISOR

In Response To House GOP Leader John Boehner’s Call For Knox To Resign His Position, Obama’s Press Secretary Said “President Is Comfortable With The Makeup Of His Faith Advisory Council.” Q: “A couple weeks ago John Boehner… ask[ed] the President remove Harry Knox from the faith-based council for comments that he made about the Pope and the Catholic Church; he referred to the Pope as a discredited leader. Does the President disagree with those comments and is he planning any action on that?” GIBBS: “I haven’t seen that letter, but I think the President is comfortable with the makeup of his faith advisory council.”(Robert Gibbs, Press Briefing, The White House, 6/2/09)