He's Really Really Sorry

John Hagee wants you to know that the whole "Catholicism is the great whore" in league with the Nazis is, you know, water under the bridge.

“Out of a desire to advance 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,” Hagee wrote, according to an advanced copy of the letter reviewed by Washington Wire. “After engaging in constructive dialogue with Catholic friends and leaders, I now have an improved understanding of the Catholic Church, its relation to the Jewish faith, and the history of anti-Catholicism.”

In the letter, addressed to Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League and one of Hagee’s biggest critics, Hagee pledges “a greater level of compassion and respect for my Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ.”

Hagee met with 22 Catholic leaders in Washington on Friday to apologize for his comments, according to a source familiar with the meeting. Despite the McCain’s condemnation of Hagee’s anti-Catholic remarks, the campaign had no role in that meeting or Tuesday’s apology, according to the source who said it was something Hagee did because he felt it was necessary.

Donohue is expected to release a letter in response today, accepting Hagee’s apology. The Catholic leader slammed both Hagee and McCain in February, releasing a statement titled “McCain Embraces Bigot.”

Well, it's a start. And such a nice story. Glad that's all wrapped up. Now if Hagee can only explain these other remarks, we'll be in good shape.

Hagee Said Disobedience To Parents “Warranted The Death Penalty In The Bible.” According to The Guardian, John Hagee said, “A number of crimes warranted the death penalty in the Bible: murder, adultery, incest, sodomy, rape, kidnapping, witchcraft, blasphemy and disobedience to parents.” [The Guardian, 7/25/94; emphasis added]

Hagee: “It Is The Natural Desire Of A Woman To Lead Through Feminine Manipulation Of The Man.” In his book, What Every Man Wants In A Woman, John Hagee wrote, “Only a Spirit-filled woman can submit to her husband’s lead. It is the natural desire of a woman to lead through feminine manipulation of the man. .... Fallen women will try to dominate the marriage. The man has the God-given role to be the loving leader of the home.” [Hagee, What Every Man Wants In A Woman via Media Matters, accessed on 5/12/08]

Hagee Compared Women To Terrorists And Snarling Dogs. In his book, What Every Man Wants In A Woman, John Hagee wrote, “Do you know the difference between a woman with PMS and a snarling Doberman pinscher? The answer is lipstick. Do you know the difference between a terrorist and a woman with PMS? You can negotiate with a terrorist.” [Hagee, What Every Man Wants In A Woman via Media Matters, accessed on 5/12/08]

Hagee Said Harry Potter Was A “Precursor Of Witchcraft.” During a televised sermon at Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, John Hagee said, “America has become a pagan society, and we are in a moral, emotional, spiritual freefall. When a school teacher cannot refer to the Ten Commandments on the wall, but can command your child to read Harry Potter, which is nothing but a precursor of witchcraft. We’re going in the wrong direction here! This is not intelligence! We are embracing the era of darkness! [Pastor Hagee televised sermon, accessed on 5/8/08]

Hagee: If You Are Unemployed “STARVE! I Don’t Care!” During a televised sermon at Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, John Hagee said, “We’ve rewarded laziness and called it welfare. You no longer look to God, you look for a check in the mail. In the bible, the bible says ‘The man that does not work shall not eat,’ I still think that ought to be the law in the United States of America. If you don’t want to get off of your blessed assurance, STARVE! I don’t care!” STARVE! I don’t feel sorry for you! GO TO WORK! [Pastor Hagee televised sermon, accessed on 5/8/08]

Hagee: “Your Daughter Can Get An Abortion At Public School Without Telling You.” During a televised sermon at Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, John Hagee said, “Your daughter can get an abortion at public school without telling you, but she can’t get an aspirin without your approval.” He added, “When you go into a voting booth and you vote for a politician who is pro-choice, meaning he’s pro-abortion, you are bowing down to the gods of abortion, and you’re just as sorry as the bum you send to Washington.” [Pastor Hagee televised sermon, accessed on 5/8/08]

Hagee: “Homosexuality Means The Death Of Society.” In his book, What Every Man Wants In A Woman, John Hagee wrote, “It is impossible to call yourself a Christian and defend homosexuality. There is no justification or acceptance of homosexuality.... Homosexuality means the death of society because homosexuals can recruit, but they cannot reproduce.” [Hagee, What Every Man Wants In A Woman via Media Matters, accessed on 5/12/08]

Hagee Said Gay Marriage Would Lead To “Every Conceivable Marriage Arrangement Demented Minds Can Possibly Conceive.” In his book, What Every Man Wants In A Woman, John Hagee wrote, “It [Gay marriage] will open the door to incest, to polygamy, and every conceivable marriage arrangement demented minds can possibly conceive. If God does not then punish America, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.” [Hagee, What Every Man Wants In A Woman via Media Matters, accessed on 5/12/08]

Hagee Said Homosexuality “Will Always Be An Abomination.” During a televised sermon at Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, John Hagee said, “We have endorsed Sodom and called it an alternative lifestyle, it is not an alternative lifestyle. It was an abomination, it is an abomination, it will always be an abomination. It will never, ever be right. I don’t care how many gay pride parades you have.” [Pastor Hagee televised sermon, accessed on 5/8/08]

Hagee On Katrina

Hagee: “Hurricane Katrina Was, In Fact, The Judgment Of God Against The City Of New Orleans.” During an appearance on NPR’s Fresh Air, Pastor Hagee said, “I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God, and they are--were recipients of the judgment of God for that. The newspaper carried the story in our local area that was not carried nationally that there was to be a homosexual parade on the Monday that the Katrina came, and the promise of that parade was that it was going to reach a level of sexuality never demonstrated before in any of the other Gay Pride parades. So I believe that the judgment of God is a very real thing. I know that there are people who demure from that, but I believe that the Bible teaches that when you violate the law of God, that God brings punishment sometimes before the day of judgment, and I believe that the Hurricane Katrina was, in fact, the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans.” [NPR, “Fresh Air,” 9/18/06; emphasis added]

Hagee: “All Of The City Was Punished Because Of The Sin That Happened There In That City.” During an appearance on NPR’s Fresh Air, Pastor Hagee was asked, “So I know you’re very opposed to homosexuality, but you think that the whole city was punished because of things like the forthcoming Gay Pride parade?” Hagee responded by saying, “This is true. All of the city was punished because of the sin that happened there in that city.” [NPR, “Fresh Air,” 9/18/06]

April 2008: Hagee Reaffirmed His Belief That Hurricane Katrina Was God’s Way Of Punishing New Orleans. During an appearance on The Dennis Prager Show, Hagee said, “It is wrong to say that every natural disaster is the result of sin. It is a result of God’s permissive will.” He was then asked, “In the case of New Orleans, you do feel that God’s hand was in it because of a sinful city?” Hagee responded by saying, “That it was a city that was planning a sinful conduct, yes.” [The Dennis Prager Show, 4/22/08]

• Hagee Backtracked On God’s Motivation For Katrina. In an email sent on April 25th, 2008, Pastor Hagee sought to restate his position on God’s motivation for Hurricane Katrina. He wrote, “As a believing Christian, I see the hand of God in everything that happens here on earth, both the blessings and the curses. But ultimately neither I nor any other person can know the mind of God concerning Hurricane Katrina. I should not have suggested otherwise. No matter what the cause of the storm, my heart goes out to all who suffered in this terrible tragedy. There but for the grace of God go any one of us.” [Baltimore Sun, 4/26/08]

• Hagee Un-Backtracked On God’s Motivation For Katrina. According to a blog published by the Dallas Morning News, “When a woman on the call asked why he seemed to have backed away from his Katrina comments in face of criticism, Hagee said he hadn’t. As for the Katrina, he said, God controls hurricanes and “God always punishes unconfessed sin. ‘You do the math.’” [Dallas Morning News, 5/7/08]

Hagee on Iran

Hagee: “Consider A Military Pre-Emptive Strike Against Iran To Prevent A Nuclear Holocaust In Israel.” During an interview with Bill Moyers, John Hagee said, “Iran is a clear and present danger to the survival of Israel, to the United States of America, and to the Western world.” He added that America must “consider a military pre-emptive strike against Iran to prevent a nuclear holocaust in Israel and a nuclear attack in America.” [Bill Moyers Journal, 10/5/07]

• Hagee: McCain’s “Administration Will Not Permit Iran To Have Nuclear Weapons To Fulfill The Evil Dreams Of President Ahmadinejad.” During his endorsement speech, John Hagee said, “John McCain has publicly stated his support of the state of Israel, that his administration will not permit Iran to have nuclear weapons to fulfill the evil dreams of President Ahmadinejad to wipe Israel off the map.” [San Antonio Express, 2/2808]

So, you see, he's got a little ways to go. But baby steps...

Coming up with something to explain this sketch with a priest and a rabbi in league with the anti-Christ would be nice, too.