Note to Newt: Back Off Harry Knox!

Newt, you've really gone beyond the pale this time.

Earlier this week, as a guest on Greta Van Susteren's show on the Fox News Channel, my brother referred to Harry Knox as "an anti-religious, left-wing zealot." Newt was responding to Harry's recent appointment to President Obama's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

I know Harry Knox. We work together at the Human Rights Campaign, where Harry serves as director of the Religion and Faith Program. He is a person of great wisdom who deserves his appointment.

He is also someone I am honored to call a dear friend. When my brother Newt attacks Harry, he's attacking me. And I don't take too kindly to bullies.

Ironically enough, I first met Harry in Cobb County, Georgia, when the county commission had passed a resolution condemning the "gay lifestyle" because a public theatre was to produce "Angels in America." The commission was browbeating the community to cancel the production of an award-winning play simply because some characters were gay. Plus ca change, eh?

Harry Knox believes in faith as a force for liberation and social justice. He dedicates his life to bringing people of all faiths together to work for a better nation and world. By exploring a wide range of religious experiences and offering thoughtful biblical analysis and commentary, Harry and his team at HRC aim to embolden faithful people to see in their faith a plea for understanding and a revitalized call for equality.

It's fitting that Newt, whose name is synonymous with divisiveness, would assail someone who unites people as adeptly as Harry Knox. Under his leadership, HRC has developed a national speakers' bureau that reaches more than 10 million Americans monthly and a weekly preaching resource that provides scriptural commentary to ministers and lay people interested in an ecumenical LGBT perspective on the Bible. He has also been instrumental in creating a national network for progressive state clergy coalitions around the country.

That is incredibly scary for those who rely on distorted messages of faith to incite fear and justify discrimination. Right-wing voices like my brother's use faith to manipulate people into voting against their interests by scapegoating the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Come on, Newt--get with the program. We're not so bad!

I don't think my brother is the intolerant talking head he plays on television. Rather, he's just using old, outmoded tactics in a desperate attempt to bring his party back from the dead. He is parroting the old canard that LGBT people cannot be people of faith. Ergo, people of faith cannot be supportive of LGBT people. If I may repeat myself, that is so 90s, bro.

But it isn't the 90s anymore--far from it. Newt doesn't realize he's already lost, because the next generation won't fall for the rhetoric that once was effective for the right-wing.

The next generation wants equality and fairness for all, and more and more of them know that those principles don't have to conflict with their religious beliefs. In fact, those convictions are quite compatible with faith. Harry Knox knows that, and he embodies those values every day.

To say that Harry is anti-religious is ruthlessly absurd. I know Harry and can say without hesitation that he is a devout Christian who believes deeply in the teachings of the Bible. He has studied the Bible and knows it calls for us to work for the common good.

And, by the way, Harry's comments about the Pope that have been so vilified by right-wingers, including my brother, were spot on. It is preposterous to say that condoms worsen the spread of AIDS. What next, telling followers that French-kissing can make you pregnant? That masturbating will make you go blind?

In response to the Pope's ludicrous claims about condoms, Harry said, "On a continent where millions of people are infected with HIV, it is morally reprehensible to spread such blatant falsehoods. The Pope's rejection of scientifically proven prevention methods is forcing Catholics in Africa to choose between their faith and the health of their entire community. Jesus was about helping the marginalized and downtrodden, not harming them further."

That doesn't sound so unreasonable to me, Newt. And it didn't seem unreasonable to the editorial boards of the Washington Post, New York Times, Seattle Times and newspapers around the country. In fact, I challenge Newt to find one legitimate medical practitioner who disagrees with Harry. That includes doctors of faith.

Thankfully, people like my brother don't speak for all people of faith, and they certainly don't speak for God. They speak for only themselves.

President Obama has done this country a great favor by selecting Harry Knox as an advisor. Harry's quiet power--his gentleness, his dignity, his respect for his fellow human beings, and his tireless optimism--stands in stark contrast to my brother, the quintessential cynic.

I'm just happy that I--and millions of other Americans--am living in the 21st Century, where people of faith can have disagreements about critical issues without calling each other's faith into question.

Comments

[middlevillage]

I used to think Newt was smart and had some good ideas on education and was sort of likable...and I also thought Reagan was nice and sort of smart and was originally a Democrat before becoming part of the GOP. Now, in retrospect I thought wrong....totally wrong. These two guys were just full of themselves and really couldn't give a damn about the average American citizen. I do hope people think about what they offered for we the people. The GOP is no longer the Grand Old Party, but rather
it should be known as the GRUMPY OLD POOPS!!!

[bobh]

It is terrible to have to tell someone that her brother is one of the most reckless, dangerous politicians we have ever had, even by the standards of Bush-Cheney. I pray that he never succeeds to the Presidency.

[twintwine]

So when is this culture war going to end? Or at least subside?

[ersf]

With the ever declining GOP, even Newt feels it is time to spew. The GOP stars can't say anything that resembles logic anymore, so why not let them bury themselves with their spew.

[jglatzer]

i loved the article's gist, and the quote from him about the Pope was spot on, the Pope doesn't have the right to abuse people and cause death and misery by demonizing condoms in aids ravaged africa, and then play the innocent victim when someone calls him on it. also, i have a fantasy about confronting my right wing sister the way she confronted her brother. but...

faith and homosexuality are not compatible. in leviticus it calls homosexuality an abomination and that you should kill gay people. how can you believe in a book that wants you murdered? how pathetic. give up the faith based bullsh*t and focus on the real world, the here and now, rights are being denied, and you don't need a biblical justification to claim worthiness.

[rainbowrecruiter]

well said....say it to your sister too.

[luke150]

maybe you mean organized religion and homosexuality are not compatible? Real faith has very little to do with organized religion and its biased message aimed at protecting the power of the church leaders.

[SocksForChristmas]

"faith and homosexuality are not compatible. in leviticus it calls homosexuality an abomination and that you should kill gay people. how can you believe in a book that wants you murdered?"

Faith != Christianity.

[saturnine maniac]

Yeah, it may say that, but it also says the punishment for any sin is death. It says women who talk to men while on their menstrual cycle are unclean and should be stoned. It says way more about adulterers than gays, and says the punishment for that is death as well. Also, Jesus himself said just looking at someone in a lustful way is as bad as adultery, so I guess it's a lot more than just gay people who believe in a book that wants them murdered.

[jglatzer]

i loved the article's gist, and the quote from him about the Pope was spot on, the Pope doesn't have the right to abuse people and cause death and misery by demonizing condoms in aids ravaged africa, and then play the innocent victim when someone calls him on it. also, i have a fantasy about confronting my right wing sister the way she confronted her brother. but...

faith and homosexuality are not compatible. in leviticus it calls homosexuality an abomination and that you should kill gay people. how can you believe in a book that wants you murdered? how pathetic. give up the faith based bullshit and focus on the real world, the here and now, rights are being denied, and you don't need a biblical justification to claim worthiness.

[AgnesBankhead]

thank you candace

all the republicans have left is the same old tired and worn out strategy of "divide and conquer" that has brought this country to its knees and left THEM obscenely wealthy and the rest of us struggling to survive

[FireGeithner]

Thank you for speaking truth to power and truth to despicable manipulation of the willfully ignorant.

[porpoise88]

Thank you, Candace. I feel for you- you've got a nut for a brother. That comment he made about Harry Knox is so silly, though- since when is being anti-religion or left-wing bad? You cam be without religion and still be spiritual; and most Americans are left-wing/liberal/Democrats (or any combo of the three).

Thank you, Candace, again, for your insightful blog, and thank you for not being like your brother.

[kashifsaeed28]

By the way, why is Fox News constantly attacking the Newsweek cover story "The Decline of Christan American" I believe it is?

My blog:
http://next-world-war.blogspot.com

[Phyllis Cohen]

Right on Sister [and I mean that in every way possible]
I'm neither gay nor Christian but this is America for goodness sake, whatever happened to liberty and JUSTICE FOR ALL!

[PhillyBella]

Bravo! I am a born-again Christian who supports everyone's right to pursue happiness without having their faith questioned. It's taken me many many years to feel comfortable in my own skin and I encourage all to question their journey. My prayer is that my sometimes over exuberant brethren take a lesson from our Lord and "judge not, lest ye be judged".

[John Burger]

Thanks, Candace, for sticking up for my pal Harry Knox against your bully brother. I've known Harry and his family for 15 years, and he is the most devout, spiritual person I know this side of Jimmy Carter. His beliefs are not some stale, rote dogma that are mindlessly recited once a week. For Harry, each day presents an opportunity to figure out how to fully engage his Christian beliefs into the day's work challenges. For anyone to denigrate his faith can only be the result of being bested by him and that faith of his. His role at HRC -- and now this new White House Panel -- are exactly what Harry was put on Earth to be doing. I am proud to be his friend, as you are, too. Thanks again for taking a public stand on this.

[Lane4411]

Newt twitter's, I am having a field day:

Suggested a debate between Newt & anthony zinni,

attached youtube file: Zinni - WMD's

Zinni is a truly great american.

No Response by New-Tie

Gingrich=Neocon, draft dodging, chickenhawk, punk

Above is complimentary

[ibsteve2u]

Can you imagine Newt as Pope? Old Galileo would have been drawn, and quartered, and then burned at the stake - because Newt knows that change is the biggest threat to his power that exists, just like the old Popes did.

[separatingwheatfromchaff]

Pope Newt,kind of fitting if you consider who and what some of the Popes of yore were.I'm just glad Newt has a sister to keep him in line and humanizes him rather than cynically attacking him.Come Newt,get with the program already.