Conservative Catholics Target Obama Aide

By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers

He's already under fire for planning to speak at the University of Notre Dame, and now President Obama is about to find himself facing calls to fire a faith-based adviser who slammed Pope Benedict XVI for "hurting people in the name of Jesus." Whispers hears that several conservative Roman Catholics will hold a conference call to press for the ouster of Harry Knox, a leader with the Human Rights Campaign, from the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

Brent Bozell of the Media Research Center, Bill Donohue of the Catholic League, and prominent conservative publisher Al Regnery plan to share a letter tomorrow to Obama signed by Catholic leaders urging him to remove Knox.

At issue is a statement Knox posted on the HRC site before getting his White House post that condemned the pope's comments on AIDS and condoms. Knox wrote: "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."

The call comes as Obama is facing some criticism from conservative Catholics angry that he is speaking at Notre Dame's commencement. A group of pro-Obama Catholics today set up a support website to make sure the speech stays scheduled.

Follow Paul and Nikki on Twitter.

Check out more Washington Whispers.