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Under fire for his anti-gay comments on Piers Morgan Tonight, former Growing Pains star Kirk Cameron defended himself in a Facebook post Tuesday. His tone was less combative and his comments much better-worded, but Kirk did not apologize for his beliefs, or the manner in which he voiced them. In fact, Cameron criticized the media and those contributing to the backlash, defending principles he stands for and the right to express them publicly. The actor defended his appearance on CNN (below) this way: Kirk Cameron on Gay Marriage “During the CNN interview, I was asked to express my views about homosexuality, gay marriage, and abortion. While that was not the agreed-upon purpose of the interview, I was pleased to answer Piers’ questions as honestly as I could. “To some, my responses were not sufficiently ‘loving’ toward the gay community. I can only say that it is my life’s mission to love all people, and I expressed the same views clearly and emphatically expressed throughout Judeo-Christian scriptures.” “As a Bible believing Christian, I could not have answered any other way.” “I’ve been encouraged by the support of many friends (including gay friends, incidentally) in the wake of condemnation by some political advocacy groups.” “In the case of one of my gay friends, we regularly talk and have healthy and respectful debate. We learn from each other, and serve others alongside one another.” “I thank God for all of my friends… even when they hold very different views on issues of faith and morality. I do not, however, believe that the right way to advance our views is to resort to name-calling and personal attacks, as some have done to me.” “I also believe that freedom of speech and freedom of religion go hand-in-hand in America. I should be able to express moral views on social issues – especially those that have been the underpinning of Western civilization for 2,000 years – without being slandered, accused of hate speech, and told from those who preach ‘tolerance’ that I need to either bend my beliefs to their moral standards or be silent when I’m in the public square.” “I hope more than a few people could see the large volume of secularist morality being imposed on me. In any society that is governed by the rule of law, some form of morality is always imposed. It’s inescapable.” “But it is also a complicated subject, and that is why I believe we need to learn how to debate these things with greater love and respect.” GLAAD was unsatisfied with the star’s explanation and offered its own response: “Saying that gay people are ‘detrimental to civilization’ might be ‘loving’ in Kirk Cameron’s mind, but it’s gay youth and victims of bullying who truly suffer from adults like Cameron who espouse these ideas,” said senior director Herndon Graddick. Cameron blasted gay marriage and homosexuality for being “destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization” and said if one if his sons told him he was gay, he would encourage him to “work through” those “issues.” What do you think? Is Kirk out of line? Or is he right on the money? Is there a double standard – at least in how certain views are treated by the media?

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Kirk Cameron Defends Anti-Gay Views, Touts "Life’s Mission to Love All People"