The head of Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships is under fire from two congressmembers for his criticism of Pope Benedict XVI’s absurd remark that condoms are aiding and abetting the spread of AIDS in Africa. Harry Knox, who also serves as director of religion and faith programs for the Human Rights Campaign, has been called anti-Catholic because he said that the pontiff was “hurting people in the name of Jesus.”

Now, two Catholic Republican Congressmembers, Thaddeus McCotter and John Boehner, are demanding Knox’s head on a silver platter. They want him fired by President Obama for daring to criticize their religious leader. To date, the President has not commented on the controversy.

The Pope originally made the AIDS remark during his trip to Africa last March. Said Benedict, “If there is no human dimension, if Africans do not help (by their behavior), the problem cannot be overcome by the distribution of prophylactics: on the contrary, they increase it.”

Knox’s response was aimed at the last part of the Pope’s remark: “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.”

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

While condoms are not 100% fool proof (sometimes they break), they are part of safe sex practices that have proven effective in reducing the risk of AIDS.

Right-wingers, such as the Pope, promote abstinence programs, which studies have shown do not work.

Let’s face facts: Knox’s comments were not extreme. They were not offensive to anyone. He didn’t insult the Pope, who is an outspoken antigay bigot. Knox merely disagreed with him. That’s hardly grounds for firing.

Last time I looked, this is a free country in which we’re all free to disagree with anyone. Had it been me making a statement about the Pope’s comment, I would have been much more direct. I would have called it idiotic and irresponsible. I would have said that the Pope was promoting AIDS by denying the benefits of safe sex measures such as condoms. I might even have said that the Pope is an extremist who prefers that people die rather than use condoms.

Knox was restrained, given the ludicrousness of the Pope’s remark.

Considering that Knox’s comments were not out of line and that the Catholic Church and the Republican Party (not to mention President Ronald Reagan) ignored the AIDS crisis in the 80s and were content to let gay men die, Obama is wise to just ignore the Republican congressmen.

Tommi Avicolli Mecca is co-editor of Avanti Popolo: Italians Sailing Beyond Columbus, and editor of Smash the Church, Smash the State: The Early Years of Gay Liberation, which has been nominated for an American Library Association award. His website is www.avicollimecca.com.