Pastor who endorsed McCain apologizes for remarks about Catholics

SEATTLE – An evangelical pastor backing John McCain tried to put his controversial remarks about the Catholic Church behind him today, issuing an apology to the head of the Catholic League expressing “deep regret for any comments Catholics found hurtful.”

In an attempt to solidify his backing among evangelicals, McCain actively sought the support of Pastor John Hagee, who heads the Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, when he launched his presidential bid last year. McCain’s campaign was caught off guard by the uproar over Hagee’s comments after the pastor’s February endorsement.

The Catholic League called on McCain to repudiate Hagee at that time, stating that he had “waged an unrelenting war” against the church and noting the pastor had referred to the Catholic Church as a “false cult system,” among other terms. Hagee also said Hurricane Katrina was “the judgment of God” on the city’s “sin.”

McCain at first waved off the criticisms, asserting that just because Hagee endorsed him “does not mean I embrace everything that he stands for and believes in.” He later distanced himself from the remarks, and during a recent visit to New Orleans he called Hagee’s comments “nonsense.”

But when a reporter asked him about the controversy recently – noting that Illinois Sen. Barack Obama had drawn far more criticism for the comments of his pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. – McCain responded that Hagee had not been his pastor for 20 years.

In his letter to the Catholic League today, Hagee said he now understands that other terms he used to describe the church - “the great whore” and the “apostate church” - are “rhetorical devices long employed in anti-Catholic literature.” He said he had gained a better understanding in recent weeks of the Catholic Church’s relationship to the Jewish faith. Hagee wrote of his “profound respect for the Catholic people” in the letter and said he hoped to advance “greater unity among Catholics and Evangelicals.”

The Catholic League said in a statement that it accepted the apology.

“Pastor John Hagee has demonstrated an improved understanding of the Catholic Church and its history,” Catholic League President Bill Donohue said in a statement. “The tone of Hagee’s letter is sincere. He wants reconciliation and he has achieved it… . Whatever problems we had before are now history. This case is closed.”

McCain has not spoken with reporters yet today. He was headed to North Bend, Wash., for a nature walk and a round table on environmental issues.

 maeve.reston@latimes.com