My Bad: Hagee Apologizes for Anti-Catholic Statements and Is Instantly Forgiven

You’ve got to love the power of redemption. Virulent anti-Catholic and John McCain supporter John Hagee has decided after months of criticism that he actually doesn’t think Catholics are anti-semitic and their church is the “great whore.” He further called the Crusades anti-Semitic and blamed the Church for Hitler’s hatred of the Jews. It turns out that those attacks were only caused by his love for Jews not his hatred of Catholics. I do not know which I disliked more: the hate-filled Anti-Catholic ravings or the opportunistic implausible apology.

I previously posted the hate-filled bizarre ramblings of Hagee, here.

It took months for Hagee to realize that his long-standing Catholic bashing was harming McCain and that political realities made his religious obsessions inconvenient. In a letter to William Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Civil and Religious Rights, Hagee apologized: “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 . . . In my zeal to oppose anti-Semitism and bigotry in all its ugly forms, I have often emphasized the darkest chapters in the history of Catholics and Protestant relations with the Jews. In the process, I may have contributed to the mistaken impression that the anti-Jewish violence of the Crusades and the Inquisition defines the Catholic Church. It most certainly does not.”

Donohue proceeded to heap praise on Hagee: “What Hagee has done takes courage and quite frankly I never expected him to demonstrate such sensitivity to our concerns.”

“I may have contributed to the mistaken impression” — wow, now that makes a world of difference. For Donohue who seems to maintain a constant rage over any movie that can be twisted into an anti-Catholic theme, it was an odd moment. Here is a quote from the guy that Hagee is apologizing to on behalf of all Catholics:

We’ve already won. Who really cares what Hollywood thinks? All these hacks come out there. Hollywood is controlled by secular Jews who hate Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular. It’s not a secret, okay? And I’m not afraid to say it. … Hollywood likes anal sex. They like to see the public square without nativity scenes. I like families. I like children. They like abortions. I believe in traditional values and restraint. They believe in libertinism. We have nothing in common. But you know what? The culture war has been ongoing for a long time. Their side has lost. [MSNBC, Scarborough Country, 12/8/04]

Donahue has also opposed democratic candidates like John Kerry as “evil.” (“Well, no. I’m saying if a Catholic votes for Kerry because they support him on abortion rights that is to cooperate in evil.” [MSNBC, Hardball, 10/21/04]).

They are now planning a lunch in New York (no kidding). They are expected to eat a Hollywood producer with an apple in his mouth.

For the full article, click here.