[StBernard] WHO IS HARRY KNOX?

[Westley Annis]

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
<http://link.sc.states.gop.com?164-1394-1644-25548-8260> , 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 <http://link.sc.states.gop.com?164-1394-1644-25548-8255> ,
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
<http://link.sc.states.gop.com?164-1394-1644-25548-8257> , 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
<http://link.sc.states.gop.com?164-1394-1644-25548-8254> , 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
<http://link.sc.states.gop.com?164-1394-1644-25548-8254> , 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 <http://link.sc.states.gop.com?164-1394-1644-25548-8253>
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
<http://link.sc.states.gop.com?164-1394-1644-25548-8258> , 6/2/09)