The racist and anti-American rants of Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama's pastor, have seen much play in the press in the last couple of months. Not as well known are the anti-Catholic rants of John Hagee, a Texas pastor who has endorsed John McCain.
Among the wonderful (but not terribly original) things Hagee has said about the Church are that that it is the great whore, and an apostate Church. Now facing increasing pressure in the wake of Obama disowning his grandmother-- er, I mean, Jeremiah Wright, Hagee has decided to apologize for his anti-Catholic remarks.
You may recall that McCain had fired an aide for playing up the Wright-Obama connection. I thought at the time that it was just because he was a weak candidate. Now it becomes clear he has his own achilles' heel.
Pastor apologizes for anti-Catholic remarks
May 13 01:12 PM US/Eastern
By JIM KUHNHENN
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - John Hagee, an influential televangelist who endorsed John McCain, is apologizing to Catholics for referring to the Roman Catholic Church as "the great whore" and calling it "the apostate church."
Hagee's support for McCain has drawn criticism from some Catholic leaders. McCain has said he does not agree with some of Hagee's past comments.
In a letter to William Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Civil and Religious Rights, Hagee wrote: "Out of a desire to advance a greater unity among Catholics and Evangelicals in promoting the common good, I want to express my deep regret for any comments that Catholics have found hurtful."
Donohue, one of Hagee's critics, said, "To me, it's basically over." He planned to meet with Hagee.
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6 comments:
From what I understand, Hagee is not the pastor of nor affiliated with the church McCain attends. So Hagee most likely does not represent McCain's views towards the Church. Also, it does not appear (from what I've read and seen on TV) that McCain has any personal connection to Hagee.
To me, Obama's situation with Wright is on a completely different level. Obama attended Wright's church for 20 years and knows him on some personal level.
It's the equivalent of some controversial figure (like a David Duke) endorsing McCain. It doesn't necessarily reflect at all on McCain. Who cares what Hagee thinks about the presidential race?!
You know a man by the friends he keeps. It's obvious John McCain's friends hate Catholics......What can Catholics expect of John McCain?
Can no one apologize properly anymore?
... I want to express my deep regret for any comments that Catholics have found hurtful.
Meaning: I'm sorry you Catholics got offended.
Why can't people actually apologize for being wrong? Is that so hard?
Fellow Catholics,
From my many dealings with protestants and their beliefs, most of them are taught anti-Catholic sentiment! That is what their religion is based on - they protested against Catholics during the Reformation, and they don't want anyone to find out the truth about our faith, or they will convert.
I'm glad the pastor apologized, but this is an unfair comparison, and the only reason there was a media mention about it is McCain is Republican. The horrible hatred that Wright spewed from his mouth was anti-American, and bigoted.
So, please fellow Catholics don't not vote for McCain because you mistakingly believe he hates Catholics. He may think our faith is wrong, but so do all protestants, or they would be Catholic!
Sharon's right. McCain is probably supported by some individuals who hate Jews too - that wouldn't make him a Nazi or even a Nazi sympathizer.
Anonymous is right too. You do know a man by the friends he keeps. Rev. Wright was Obama's pastor for many years and his personal spiritual advisor until it hit the fan and Obama threw him to the curb. I've not seen evidence of a similar "friendship" between Hagee and McCain.
McCain's friends actually include liberal Washington elites like Ted Kennedy for example. That's his real problem.
Timman, I think your post's headline is a bit misleading since it implies that Hagee is or was McCain's pastor.
Sharon, while Hagee's views are most likely not the same as McCain's, so are Obama's not the same as Rev. Wright's.
latinmassgirl, I am a Lutheran "convert" to Catholicism. No part of my Lutheran education EVER gave me any anti-Catholicism, unless by that you me open-minded.
peace
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