Gary Sinise pulled out of the speakers lineup for an event organised by a Catholic group that calls homosexuals to "seek a cure."
On Monday, the actor, known for his role as Lieutenant Dan Taylor in the Academy Award-winning film Forrest Gump, decided to cancel his appearance at the 2015 summit of the Legatus organisation after learning of the group's controversial views on homosexuality.
In a statement posted on his WhoSay account, the 59-year-old Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner, whose foundation is geared towards providing aid to veterans and members of the military, said, ""For me, faith has been a catalyst for my mission to honour the men and women who serve in our nation's military.
"When I accepted the invitation to speak at the Legatus conference on Veterans issues and share my story, I was unaware of the controversy surrounding some of the participants, and their views on personal matters.
"I don't want my mission—which is designed to be unifying—to be disrupted by these, or any controversies, and therefore have decided to withdraw."
Following Sinise's withdrawal, Fox News anchor Bret Baier, who was also set to speak in the Legatus Summit to be held on the last days of January, also backed out "due to the controversy surrounding some editorial stances in the organisation's magazine."
Legatus, which Life Site News reports as being firm in upholding the Church's teaching on all moral matters including homosexuality, has indeed been accused of being anti-gay, as materials published by the organisation state that homosexuality is a 'same-sex attraction disorder.'
One piece cited by those critical of the Christian group's views was penned by Fr. John Trigilio, who stated that the Church "has always taught that the homosexual inclination is disordered."
"It's impossible to see homosexual unions as being in line with God's intentions for marriage since the product of intercourse is not fruitful," Trigilio wrote.
"Along with masturbation, fornication, and adultery, homosexuality is a selfish act that cannot fulfill the divinely ordained purpose of the reproductive powers."
The cleric also said in his article that attempts to amend the law to recognise same-sex unions "distort the true meaning of marriage."
The subject of same-sex union has been a hot topic in recent years as US states and many countries around the world continue to make up their mind on the issue of gay marriage. The Catholic Church, however, remains consistent in its stance, which upholds that marriage is meant solely for a man and a woman.
Pope Francis, though calling the Church to support families with gay children, has said that same-sex marriage still "has not crossed our minds."
