Televangelist John Hagee apologizes to Catholics
By JIM KUHNHENN
Associated Press
May 14, 2008
Page 2 of 2
Some commentators even likened Hagee's affect on McCain to the controversy Democrat Barack Obama faced as a result of the views expressed by his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
McCain initially embraced Hagee's endorsement, eager to reach out to religious voters by securing the support of a prominent Christian conservative. But he was soon forced to put some distance with Hagee.
''Any comments that he made about the Catholic Church I strongly condemn, of course,'' he said during an April appearance on ABC's ''This Week.''
Campaigning in North Bend, Wash., McCain on Tuesday said Hagee's apology was ''very helpful.''
''Whenever somebody apologizes for something they did wrong, then I think that that's a laudable thing to do,'' he said.
Asked if he or his campaign played a role in brokering Hagee's letter, McCain simply said: ''I certainly wasn't.''
During the early primaries, McCain won strong support from Catholic voters. But Hagee threatened to become an issue heading into the general election.
Hagee is no stranger to provocative remarks. On National Public Radio in 2006, he said Hurricane Katrina was God's judgment because ''New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God.'' He has written that the feminist movement represents ''a rebellion against God's pattern for the family.'' On Tuesday, the Democratic National Committee said that considering those and other comments McCain still should renounce Hagee's endorsement.
But Donohue said Hagee, by offering his apology now, may have defused a potential problem from the Arizona senator.
''Had this happened after Labor Day I think it would have been an insurmountable problem for McCain to reach out to Catholics,'' Donohue said. ''Now, with this behind him, I think the raised eyebrows in the Catholic community will begin to normalize.''
In a statement posted in the Catholic League's Web site, Donohue added: ''What Hagee has done takes courage and quite frankly I never expected him to demonstrate such sensitivity to our concerns.''
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