Evangelical Leader Quits Kemp Campaign

Evangelical leader Tim LaHaye, citing a “scurrilous attack” that accused him of anti-Catholic and anti-Jewish statements, resigned Monday as a national co-chairman of Rep. Jack Kemp’s presidential campaign.

In a letter to the New York congressman, LaHaye said that because of “the very unfair controversy surrounding my theological positions that has been conceived and promoted by some who may not support your campaign, I feel that it is best that I resign immediately.”

In a one-sentence response, Kemp said: “I regret that Tim LaHaye--a good and decent man as well as a friend--felt he had to resign from his honorary position.”

The Baltimore Sun reported on Friday that LaHaye had referred to Catholicism as “a false religion” and had said rejection by Jews of Jesus was one reason for Jerusalem’s historic troubles.

In his letter to Kemp, LaHaye said he has written 23 books and was bound to have “taken some positions that would be objectionable to someone, particularly when it is taken out of context.”