Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Pro-McCain Pastor Apologizes to Catholics

Hagee regrets 'Godless theology' remarks; Catholic League accepts apology

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted May 13, 2008 6:24 PM CDT

(Newser) – A Texas preacher whose anti-Catholic comments were haunting John McCain's campaign apologized today, and the president of the Catholic League accepted, Politico reports. In an apparent effort to avert a GOP version of the Jeremiah Wright situation, John Hagee wrote a letter about his "deep regret for any comments that Catholics have found hurtful"; those comments included referring to the faith as a "Godless theology."

In response, William Donohue wrote, "What Hagee has done takes courage and quite frankly I never expected him to demonstrate such sensitivity to our concerns."

[Images (2)]

[Videos (1)]

Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks at a news conference with Rev. John Hagee. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks at a press conference with Rev. John Hagee. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Pastor Hagee compares Catholic church with Hitler. (observateurs)

View larger videos >>

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Quietly, McCain Makes Overtures to Evangelicals

But leaders are skeptical, wounded by Hagee, Parsley slams

(NEWSER) - John McCain faces a challenge uncommon among GOP presidential candidates: rallying evangelical Christians to vote for him. As the New York Times reports, the McCain campaign is holding meetings with evangelical leaders and blasting them with emails, but many are still taking a wait-and-see approach. And McCain's lack of rapport with religious conservatives was exacerbated by his recent rejection of endorsements of the Rev. John Hagee and the Rev. Rod Parsley. More»

Dumping Pastors Is Gamble For McCain

In casting aside Hagee and Ohio's Parsley, Republican stands to alienate evangelicals

(NEWSER) - By rejecting endorsements from influential pastors John Hagee and Rod Parsley, John McCain might have alienated evangelical voters, a key Republican electoral bloc. If they “feel this is an attack on them,” one consultant told the Washingon Post, “even if they don't agree with Parsley and Hagee or follow them, it could galvanize them against McCain." More»

Obama Wants Truce Even as McCain Spins Pastors' Ties

McCain says his link to Hagee neither long nor strong as Obama's to Wright

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama is tweaking John McCain for slinging muck on Rev. Jeremiah Wright on one hand while distancing himself from Rev. John Hagee on the other, the Chicago Tribune reports. “Nobody thinks that McCain believes that stuff," Obama said. "For McCain to then suggest that every single statement that was made by somebody is somehow attributable to me is just wrong.” More»

McCain Severs Ties to Pastor Over Holocaust Blast

And Hagee withdraws his endorsement right back

(NEWSER) - John McCain and John Hagee dissolved their union in tit-for-tat fashion today—one day after an offensive sermon about Hitler came to light. Hagee claimed God sent Hitler to perpetrate the Holocaust, because it was a “top priority for the Jewish people … to get them to come back to” Israel. McCain called the remarks “indefensible” as he “rejected” the controversial endorsement. More»

McCain May Pray For Pastors to Zip It

Hagee not talking, but another high-profile preacher may be in news soon

(NEWSER) - John McCain may be heading for his own preacher problems, but at least one of his problematic pastors is clamming up for now, Newsweek reports. John Hagee, who called Hurricane Katrina “the judgment of God,” and Catholicism a “false cult system,” recently answered a request for comment by saying, “It's better that I don't.” More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Pro-McCain Pastor Apologizes to Catholics