FOXNews.com: Ben Carson steps down as Johns Hopkins commencement speaker after controversial comments

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Ben Carson steps down as Johns Hopkins commencement speaker after controversial comments Apr 11th 2013, 12:37 Published April 11, 2013 FoxNews.com Johns Hopkins neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who faced criticism for controversial comments about same-sex marriage, stepped down Wednesday as the commencement speaker for the university. Carson sent medical school Dean Paul Rothman a letter saying that he didn't want to "distract from the celebratory nature of the day," reported The Baltimore Sun. In the past few weeks, Carson has backtracked on comments he made about gay marriage. In an interview on Fox News, he had said "no group, be they gays, be they NAMBLA, be they people who believe in bestiality ... they don't get to change the definition" of marriage.  Carson, who has become a rising conservative star after publicly questioning Obama's health care overhaul earlier this year, later apologized.  On Friday, Rothman released a statement calling Carson's comments "offensive" and said the university recognizes "that tension now exists in our community because hurtful, offensive language was used by our colleague, Dr. Ben Carson, when conveying a personal opinion. Dr. Carson's comments are inconsistent with the culture of our institution." Carson also stepped down as the speaker for the Johns Hopkins University School of Education diploma ceremony. "Given all the national media surrounding my statements as to my belief in traditional marriage, I believe it would be in the best interest of the students for me to voluntarily withdraw as your commencement speaker this year," Carson wrote. It is unknown at this time who will replace Carson. Calls and emails to Johns Hopkins were not immediately returned.   Click for more from The Baltimore Sun.

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