Forrest Gump actor Gary Sinise has pulled out of speaking at a summit for an anti-gay Catholic group that believes homosexuality can be ‘cured’.

Sinise is best known for his role in the film adaptation of Of Mice and Men, and was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Lietenant Dan Taylor in Forrest Gump.

The actor had been set to speak at an event for Legatus – a Catholic organisation that encourages people to seek a cure for homosexuality.

Pulling out, Sinise released a statement saying: “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.”

Articles on the group’s website encourage people suffering from a ‘SSA [same-sex attraction] disorder’ to seek a cure.