Religion News Blog is a non-profit service providing academics, religion professionals and other researchers with religion & cult news

Religion news articles about religious cults, sects, world religions, and related issues

Navigation:

Search

Share & Follow Religion News Blog

Religion News Blog by Email [?]

Follow Religion News Blog at Twitter

Subscribe to Religion News Blog [?]

Follow Religion News Blog on Google+

Remember These Stories?

One year ago today: AUM Shinrikyo leader Joyu informs security agency that he is leaving cult, Current doomsday cult leader reports Japanese authorities on setting up new group and Houses of the Holy

Two years ago today: Indian cult kills children for goddess, Pub Ministry Spreads the Faith and Minister found not guilty of misconduct

Amazon

Amazon.com Widgets

Latest Religion Books

New Gospel Music

New Christian Music

Televangelist John Hagee responds to criticism of his McCain endorsement

Austin American-Statesman, USA
Mar. 3, 2008
Mike Ward
www.statesman.com

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Wednesday March 5, 2008

A controversy about San Antonio televangelist John Hagee’s endorsement of GOP presidential aspirant Sen. John McCain heated up this afternoon, as Hagee responded for the first time to accusations that he is anti-Catholic.

At a news conference today in Phoenix, McCain said: “It’s simply not accurate to say that because someone endorses me that I therefore embrace their views.”

According to the Catholic League and other Catholic groups, Hagee in past statements has referred to the Roman Catholic Church as “the great whore” and called it a “false cult system” and “the apostate church.”

He also has linked Adolf Hitler to the Catholic Church, suggesting it helped shape his anti-Semitism, according to The Associated Press.

John Hagee Posted at Flickr.com
by gojaysgo9293

Bunk, Hagee said in a statement. This is his full statement:

“I have always had great love for Catholic people and great respect for the Catholic Church. My wife comes from a Catholic family and millions of my viewers are Catholics. I am shocked and saddened to learn of the mischaracterization of my views on Catholics that has spread while I spent the weekend celebrating the 50th anniversary of my entry into the ministry with family and friends.

“Throughout my career I have been a strong critic of Christian anti-Semitism. But any fair review of my record will demonstrate that I have consistently criticized all Christians — Protestant and Catholic alike — for the sin of anti-Semitism. In fact I rarely address this topic without castigating the founder of Protestantism, Martin Luther, for the horrendous anti-Semitism he spouted towards the end of his career. It is a bitter irony that in my zeal to hold my fellow Christians accountable for our past anti-Semitism, I now find myself compared to an anti-Semite.

“To call me ‘anti-Catholic’ makes about as much sense as calling me ‘anti-Protestant.’ I am, most assuredly, neither.”

Bookmark, Share, or Email This Page

Read Another Article

Nuwaubian property brings few bidders

Northern Ireland leader Ian Paisley will step down

Subscribe to Religion News Blog updates

Subscribe to Religion News Blog [What is this?]

Get Religion News Blog's headline by Email [What is this?]

Follow Religion News Blog at Twitter

Find Related Information

Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults:

ApologeticsSearch.com: Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs.

CounterCultSearch.com: Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, and cults experts -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support.