Hagee Takes Arrow Out of Obamoloch Catholic Quiver: Controversial Evangelical Apologizes to Catholics [UPDATED]

(Hat tip: Opinionated Catholic)

I guess the McCain-bashing Obamoloch Catholics won't have Pastor Hagee to kick around anymore:

John Hagee, the controversial evangelical pastor who endorsed John McCain, will issue a letter of apology to Catholics today for inflammatory remarks he has made, including accusing the Roman Catholic Church of supporting Adolf Hitler and calling it “The Great Whore.” (See a copy of the letter PDF.)

“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.”

[More]

UPDATE
The Catholic League responds:

... The tone of Hagee’s letter is sincere. He wants reconciliation and he has achieved it. Indeed, the Catholic League welcomes his apology. What Hagee has done takes courage and quite frankly I never expected him to demonstrate such sensitivity to our concerns. But he has done just that. Now Catholics, along with Jews, can work with Pastor Hagee in making interfaith relations stronger than ever. Whatever problems we had before are now history. This case is closed.

UPDATE #2
DNC says:

"But wait, we REALLY needed this "controversy" over an endorsement by some guy McCain doesn't even know to continue into the general election campaign in order to balance out Obamoloch's 20-year association with his nutjob of a pastor Jeremiah Wright.


Previous Pro Ecclesia posts on this subject:
Catholic Left Beats McCain with Hagee Stick

How Significant is Hagee's McCain Endorsement?

Deal Hudson: "McCain Campaign Learns Its Lesson About Catholics"