Obama faith-based advisor maintains that Pope hurts people ‘in name of Jesus’

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Harry Knox, a member of the Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

Washington D.C., Feb 4, 2010 / 04:11 am (CNA).- Harry Knox, a member of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, has stood by his past comment that Pope Benedict XVI is “hurting people in the name of Jesus.”

Knox, a former licensed minister of the United Methodist Church and a leader with the homosexual activist group Human Rights Campaign (HRC), originally made his comments in March 2009 in response to Pope Benedict’s comments about the effectiveness of condoms in fighting AIDS in Africa.

“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,” Knox had said in a HRC statement. “On a continent where millions of people are infected with HIV, it is morally reprehensible to spread such blatant falsehoods.”

CNSNews.com spoke with Knox at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. Asked if he stood by his comments, he said “I do.”

Asked about Harvard AIDS prevention researcher Dr. Edward Green’s claim that the Pope was correct, Knox said Dr. Green was “simply incorrect.”

“All the other evidence of science shows otherwise.”

In March 2009, Dr. Green told CNA that researchers cannot find an association between more condom use and lower HIV rates. He has also written that programs to increase fidelity in relationships and to reduce the number of sex partners are effective.

Previously, Knox has described Pope Benedict XVI and certain Catholic bishops as “discredited leaders” because of their opposition to same-sex “marriage.”

Though acknowledging the Knights of Columbus’ “good works," he also called the Catholic fraternal order’s members “foot soldiers of a discredited army of oppression” because of the organization’s support for the successful California ballot measure Proposition 8. That 2008 measure restored the definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Comments: 32

Subscriber comments:

Published by: David
Edmonton, AB 02/26/2010 03:26 PM EST

People who bash the Catholic Church need to look no furthur than the scoreboard....hospitals, universities, charitable organizations, etc. The Catholic Church runs most of them....it's a bigger winning streak than any sports team with no end in sight. When the Pope talks, everyone listens. When Knox talks, his family and friends listen while the rest of us google who the heck he actually is....or like most people, simply don"t care

Published by: Amani Hera
kenya 02/23/2010 09:15 AM EST

We cannot expect anything else better from Harry Knox especially as he heads a homosexual organization. Homosexuality is simply a sin and Heterosexuality outside of marriage is also a sin.The truth remains the truth whether Mr.Knox agrees or does not agree, whether he likes it or does not like it. Kudos to the Pope for insisting on the Truth.

Published by: Michael Okutoyi
Eldoret, Kenya. 02/11/2010 05:49 AM EST

Wasn't it Jesus who said that he has not come to this world to bring peace, rather to create acrimony. Ones enemies will be the members of his/her family. The popes archenemies do not come from outside the catholic church. This is why he is hurting Christians in "the name of Jesus". The important thing to not is that we Christians are not making enmity with the pope but rather with the truth which the pope stands for. Heaven and Earth will pass but God's word(the truth) will remain.

Published by: DLL
scituate Mass. USA 02/07/2010 05:20 PM EST

CM: The entire concept of all creation is ordered,it is not by chance. There is the natural order with its natural laws and there is a common law and order. There is also a Divine nature and it is ordered with its Divine laws. The life of humankind is ordered and subject to these 3 sets of orders and laws. The intelligence of humankind is reflected in the fact that an individual can sin and sin in a grave sort of a way. It only takes a couple of seconds for a human being to destroy their own personal sense of existence. The knowledge that one can sin and sin against all humankind is really what creates a sense of the greatness of the individual minds that each human person has,when compared to other animals. Divine law is that knowledge of sin for a human person. To pray to God to be delivered from sin is wise as God is the Divine sense of ordered laws for humankind,as God is the creator and all.Human creation is ordered to understand a sense of what is eternal. What is eternal is beyond time and space, it is of God and of his realm. God is the Divine order and law,as God is infinite. Jesus is that window into eternity,as Jesus died for the sins of all and was risen on the 3rd day. By faith we know that all can overcome a sinful human nature that cannot transcend time and death without being purified by what is Divine or perfect law and order. Human kind ,made in the image and likeness of God is designed to share in eternity,the true garden of Eden. Christ is Eden's light!

Published by: CM
MA 02/06/2010 03:09 PM EST

Rate: Bad

Someone said Obama needs to open his mind. More than half of this country honestly believes that the creator of our universe, at 100 Billion light years across with over a trillion galaxies, deemed it prudent to send a guy named Jesus Christ to Earth to die and be resurrected to absolve Christians (but nobody else) of an original sin caused by a snake and an apple. These people also have the right to vote.

Published by: vin
ilion/ny/usa 02/06/2010 08:32 AM EST

Ken, I agree with you whole heartedly. I sometimes feel our church clergy hold back too much and allow things like this go unanswered to our great detriment. I wish the USCCB would speak out loud and clear when things like this are said. I love my church and am in great sorrow when I read things like this because I know the great harm this administration is doing to our country, not only our church. God help us all.

Published by: DNG
Amherst, NY USA 02/06/2010 12:49 AM EST

Rate: Regular

This is the era in which the CHURCH must pay for its hate in the past. 9 Crusades, Spanish INQ., persecution of Jews until 1870 and the list goes on. Every faith has its rules and they have a right to believe in them. However, its wrong when a faith attempts to impose its morality outside the faith. Name one Jewish leader who has attempted to make their morals a public forum? Catholics still play the victim when in fact for 1700 years since the Council of Nicea YOU!! have been SATAN.

Published by: thelma doutt
bunnell, fl, USA 02/06/2010 12:43 AM EST

What a disgrace to have made such and ungodly statement. You can tell Satan doesn't have to work very hard when people like Knox does the work for him. He needs to step down immediately.

Published by: Dr Susan Moore
Australia 02/05/2010 11:07 PM EST

I've browsed through these comments. The virulent attacks on Mr Obama and his entire Administration (e.g. by Francis) are as extreme and misguided in their way, and as troubling, as the uninformed, virulent attack by Mr Knox on the Holy Father. There is much confusion in America and elsewhere about human sexuality, the virtue of temperance, and the nature of Christian charity. Self-interested lobbies, alas, do not value truth, as Teresa lawrence has eloquently reminded us.

Published by: Carl Sundell
Lubbock, TX USA 02/05/2010 05:43 PM EST

Published by: Terry Tassin
Vancouver WA 02/05/2010 04:51 PM EST

No relation to Monsignor Knox, obviously...

Published by: GFM
St. Louis, MO 02/05/2010 02:20 PM EST

John Boehner, the minority leader of the US House of Reps. has called him a bigot and has demanded his resignation. I would completely agree. Catholics should begin a petition to that effect. This is hatred pure and simple..

Published by: Mike
Moreno Valley, Ca. USA 02/05/2010 12:37 PM EST

Interesting, isn't it, that people like Mr. Knox seem to be the ones interviewed by our news agencies. They're the ones feeding this fire of death, as subtle as it may seem. If we start watching out who & what we vote for, people such as Mr Knox would have less of an impact. When we are in the majority, the news agencies will jump off the other bandwagon like rats off a burning ship. Lets be smart! Pray for wisdom, not selfish vengance.

Published by: Jason
Kenner USA 02/05/2010 12:15 PM EST

Nobody should be surprised at anything coming out of this administration. There was ample evidence about Obama going in. And yet, many many Catholics cast their vote for him.

Published by: Mike Malone
Glenwood, IA USA 02/05/2010 10:05 AM EST

More poisonous invective from the fringe. These people would do anything and say anything to advance their agenda. We all need to pray for these people. Mike Malone

Published by: Bob
Omaha, NE 02/05/2010 09:05 AM EST

And Knox is hurting people in the name of Satan.

Published by: Allan Wafkowski
Ridgefield Pk, NJ 02/05/2010 05:44 AM EST

What we need to do about this is to insure that his boss never has a second term. Knox is only a symptom of the depravity that was foisted on the American people by Obama. Fight with your vote.

Published by: Maureen
NY 02/04/2010 08:51 PM EST

Just a question people should probably ask themselves at this point in history. Have you chosen sides yet? Are you following the Holy Father or the others? I have a feeling the testing is almost complete...

Published by: Augusto
Canada 02/04/2010 06:19 PM EST

I just wonder what will become of liars like this Mr. Knox when having to stand before Jesus for judgment. I would certainly not like to be in his shoes. In the meantime, while always exposing the works of the devil for what they are, let the grass grow with the wheat. The Lord will know how to sift them apart when the time is ripe.

Published by: Linda
Stuart, Florida 02/04/2010 03:13 PM EST

While reading this article I was wondering who gave Knox authority over the Vicar of Christ? Additionally, he did not offer any solid evidence to prove he was right. “All the other evidence of science shows otherwise.” What evidence - What science? I think there is definitely an agenda here.

Published by: PAPPY
SEDONIA 02/04/2010 01:10 PM EST

Nothing will convince those that are against abstinence and for condoms to contol AIDS that the pope is right. Darkness can not admit light, only light can do its best to shine in the darkness. And the lovers of darkness will probably always be blind, even unto their own destruction.

Published by: Teresa lawrence
San Antonio, Texas USA 02/04/2010 12:12 PM EST

Mr. Harry Knox really has some deep issues that need to be addressed His comment of accusation concerning our Holy Father is a profound reflection of his projection about himself. May he find the truth of himself by looking at Christ and reading the Word. The Holy Father may be causing him some discomfort, but if he were at peace with himself, he would never find it necessary to try to knock down the Holy Father's words. Just gazing upon the face of Mr. Knox one easily sees a deeply disturbed man who does not know his worth or his truth. Our place as Catholic Christians is to pray for him with compassion... his words and attitudes are only doing a dis-service to himself.

Published by: Kevin
Gettysburg 02/04/2010 11:52 AM EST

First, i think Mr. Ken Golden is very mistaken; we need to hear these types of news stories, since the the major media outlets will deliberately withhold any item that would discredit the Obama Administration. This is a completely outrageous statement that should result in this person's removal. Although this buffoon's statements are no more abhorrent to the Catholic faith than Obama's policies, this type of public invective provides an opportunity for genuine Catholics and other people of goodwill in sufficient numbers such that the collusive major media would have no choice but to report it, to hopefully create a backlash.

Published by: Jim
Mission Viejo/CA/USA 02/04/2010 11:21 AM EST

Why is this a news story? To give this man "time" is a waste of my time and the readers! He obviously has an agenda and CNA is helping him!! Come on CNA, you can do better than that!!

Published by: JLS
Riverside, CA, USA 02/04/2010 10:13 AM EST

Did the interviewer ask Knox if he is a deviant? What was his reply? Would Knox classify Obama as a deviant? Or a deviant master?

Published by: Jason
Spartanburg, SC, USA 02/04/2010 10:10 AM EST

I am increasingly annoyed at the frequency with which Christians blindly discuss important issues on satan's terms. Remember that words have meanings and when you acknowledge certain things which are not true, you, however unintentionally, do his work. Prop. 8 did not "restore" anything. No temperal power has the competence or authority to redefine any institution ordained by God. Prop. 8 merely reset the state in the correct direction and away from its previous attempts to perpetuate a lie. To say it restored the definition of marriage basically gives them what they want... tacit acknowledgement that the state defines what marriage is. Come on guys!... choose your own words! The last line should have been, "The 2008 measure reaffirmed the state's recognition of the universal truth of marriage."

Published by: Francis
Wareham Ma 02/04/2010 09:35 AM EST

It is not surprising that Barack Hussein Obama would put a secular, leftwing, progressivist heretic to the Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The only good thing about this is that most true and orthodox Catholics won't listen to this clown Knox anymore than we will listen to old Barry when it comes to faith, morals, and the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution.

Published by: Weldon
Conroe, Texas, USA 02/04/2010 09:34 AM EST

I’m not Catholic, but I would have to agree whole heartedly with Pope Benedict that behavioral modification is the optimal way to prevent the spread of HIV. It’s good to see that this position is being further bolstered by science.

Published by: DLL
scituate Mass. USA 02/04/2010 09:31 AM EST

The Pope's statement was a fact. Condoms are not exclusively safe sex.To assume that more condom use is safe sex is misleading and irrational. More sex and more partners increase the chances for sexual diseases. Sex between couples without regard to sexual orientation is a time bomb for contracting venereal disease and AIDS. No barrier like a condom is the ultimate protection when behavior with regard to sexual conduct is completely ignored.To abstain from sex and wait until one is married and to have sexual relations with just that partner,and that that relationship is a male female one,is fact for the fact,that AIDS and venereal disease are non existent under those conditions. Harry Knox is irrational and misleading and given the chance to take his advice or the advice of the Pope,I for one know that the Pope is the one who cares for humanity and his advice is sound advice. Harry Knox would have Ignorance prevail as he knows that in good conscience the Pope and certain bishops will never agree with him. Knox is really pushing the homosexual cause as the prop 8 situation in California didn't turn out as he would have liked. He really didn't care about Dr Green's research that was a screen for the homosexual agenda,so he just says that Dr. Greens research is wrong. The guy is dangerous an should not be a part of Obama's advisory neighborhood and faith based council.

Published by: Bruce
Colorado Springs/CO/USA 02/04/2010 08:19 AM EST

Mr. Knox, quite simply, is an anti-Catholic bigot. There really isn't anything he says that can be taken with any seriousness. He is also a reflection of the homosexual lobby and the Obama administration.

Published by: Ken Golden
Davenport, IA 02/04/2010 07:47 AM EST

It is unfortunate that our Pope would be slandered like this but even more so that Catholic News Agency would post this news story without some rebuttal from a church spokesperson. A casual reader could view this news story as presenting accurate views that are commonly believed. That would be a tragedy since most Catholics do not support the viewpoint provided. If we must read opinions of those on the fringe, can we not also hear from the church on such issues? You owe it to your reader each time to not present such garbage as truth.

Published by: kathy
chicago 02/04/2010 06:45 AM EST

Knox is merely a reflection of the sentiments of his boss. They both need to open their minds.

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