Pastor Calls Catholic Church "The Great Whore"

By Pamela Mortimer

As the presumptive Republican Presidential candidate, John McCain has a wealth of supporters from the religious right, including televangelist John Hagee, leader of San Antonio’s Cornerstone Church. Hagee has created his own place in the spotlight by calling the Roman Catholic Church "the great whore" and "the apostate church".

When questioned about the comments, Hagee stated they were taken out of context. In a letter sent Monday to Bill Donohue, President of the Catholic League for Civil and Religious Rights, Hagee wrote, "I want to express my deep regret for any comments that Catholics have found hurtful".

"Neither of these phrases can be synonymous with the Catholic Church," he said.

Donohue compared Hagee to the New York radio "shock jocks" that encouraged two listeners to have sex in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in 2002. Still, Donohue is always open to forgiveness.

Donohue graciously accepted Hagee’s apology in an interview on FOX News Radio. "I’m absolutely delighted … I haven’t seen such a quick turnaround in the 15 years that I have been president of the Catholic League."

"We’re not in the business of rejecting apologies whether it’s from Opie and Anthony or Pastor Hagee so now when we meet we can understand that this issue is moot and behind us and I think it’s a great moment that we can have some degree of reconciliation," Donohue said

The issue will undoubtedly be discussed further when Donohue meets with Hagee on Thursday.

Ever since Hagee endorsed McCain in February, Donohue and others petitioned the Arizona senator to reject the pastor’s support. McCain stated on Tuesday that his campaign was not responsible for prompting Hagee’s apology. The Republican front-runner also said he didn’t know if the apology would suppress criticism although it was "helpful" and "laudable."

"I believe the fact that these two individuals came together is a laudable thing and a testimony to both individuals and their principles, which are Judeo-Christian values," he said.

This isn’t the first time McCain has rejected a comment made by Hagee. The pastor made a previous statement blaming the sinners of New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina. Hagee eventually apologized for the Katrina remarks a couple of weeks ago, saying it’s "not his place to try to know the mind of God" concerning natural disaster.

Despite the controversy, McCain continues to accept Hagee’s endorsement while rejecting any comparisons between Hagee’s controversial remarks and those of Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Jr., former pastor to Barack Obama.