Bob Newhart cancels appearance at anti-LGBT Catholic event

Comedian Bob Newhart announced Thursday online that he would not be appearing at a conference organized by a Catholic magazine that blamed the Devil for marriage equality in the state of Minnesota.

Towleroad reported that Newhart's Twitter feed posted a statement saying, " Bob will not be performing at the Legatus Summit in Orlando FL on February 6."

The magazine had been promoting Newhart's appearance by billing him as a "legendary Catholic comedian."

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) said in a statement that, "It is possible that Newhart, like many people were unaware that Legatus was such a rabid anti-LGBT organization. The organization was created by former Domino's Pizza CEO, Thomas Monaghan, for Roman Catholic businesspeople, and membership is only available to top level executives."

In August 2013, Legatuspublished a transcript of a speech by a Minneapolis-area archbishop saying, "Satan knows all too well the value that the family contributes to the fabric of a good solid society, as well as the future of God's work on earth" and thus set out to gain acceptance for LGBT couples' right to marry, a speech he referred to as his "politically incorrect Powerpoint."

[Image via Bob Newhart Facebook page]