McCain Rejects Hagee Endorsement
Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 04:19PM After a sermon from the 1990’s was revealed to have evangelical pastor John Hagee saying that scripture predicted the Holocaust, Republican candidate John McCain has rejected the endorsement of the preacher.
Hagee’s sermon, which can be found here, attempts to explain why God would allow the Holocaust using the book of Jeremiah the prophet in the Old Testament. Essentially Hagee surmises it was to bring the Jewish people back to their own land.
These conjectures are common in evangelical churches to explain how a good God could possibly allow for such a thing as the Holocaust. Hagee wasn’t suggesting that God made the Holocaust happen, but rather that prophesy in the Old Testament predicted it. It’s obvious his comments are being completely misunderstood to make him appear anti-Semitic or pro-Hitler. Neither is true. Hagee, like almost all evangelicals, supports Israel.
As a Catholic, I’m glad to see Hagee gone, despite the fact that he apologized to the Catholic League for offensive comments against the Church (Hagee’s written apology can be read here). I’ve heard many of Hagee’s anti-Catholic sermons over the years and he was clear that the Roman Catholic Church is the Whore of Babylon mentioned in book of Revelations. Odd, since the Catholic Church is responsible for the Canon of Scripture and preserving the faith throughout the centuries so Hagee could misinterpret it.
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Reader Comments (10)
Although I'm not a Catholic, I can understand why you would be angry at his attacking the Catholic Church, Amy, although I hate to see anyone misinterpreted. Perhaps he deserves it, but it would be better to see him "gone" for something he did do rather than something he didn't.
Why is it so many preachers seem to feel it is their job to attack other religions? Naturally I have a huge problem with extremist Islam, but most religions in this country, whether they be Catholic, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Baptist, Morman, etc., are peaceful and believe in the same God, so I've never understood the venom.
I don't mind seeing Hagee gone, although his endoresment makes no impact on me whatsoever, because he's a lightening rod of controversy. He speaks boldly in his sermons having no idea years later during a presidential campaign that they would be broadcast worldwide. His demeanor would be more humble if that were the case. But throughout the 90's and early 2000's I tolerated his sermons because some family members (not my husband, by the way) liked him, and partially because he was so notoriously anti-Catholic.
I think this whole experience will help Hagee, particuarly in his understanding of Catholicism. He is completely misunderstood about his current comments and McCain obviously calculated it would be better to make the break now than have more soundbytes emerging that would be controversial, even if they weren't in nature.
I agree with your comments, Gayle!
I'm sure it's a matter of concern. Imagine Hagee believes he may now be persona non grata for future invitations to the White House, should McCain be elected President.
Whether Hagee's basically an all around nice guy or not such thoughts must be a blow to the ego with people of that caliber ..., and it's also a moral lesson for everyone in the future: before you stick your neck out and say things other than nice things about other people and their religion, consider what McCain did to that pantload Hagee in 2008 ...!
It's a shame, and their are no winners.
I'm sure it's a matter of concern. Imagine Hagee believes he may now be persona non grata for future invitations to the White House, should McCain be elected President.
Whether Hagee's basically an all around nice guy or not such thoughts must be a blow to the ego with people of that caliber ..., and it's also a moral lesson for everyone in the future: before you stick your neck out and say things other than nice things about other people and their religion, consider what McCain did to that pantload Hagee in 2008 ...!
It's a shame, and there are no winners.
1. No one can disprove Rev. Hagee's interpretation of the Hebrew writing prophets. One must contort their minds and distort the prophets' message to wring a different interpretation. The repatriation of Israel is a dominant theme in the scriptures.
2. Hagee is a HUGE supporter of Israel.
3. McCain is already plan B for many conservatives. He just dropped another rung.
4. Any attempt to conflate Rev. Jeremiah Wright/Obama with Rev. Hagee/McCain is lunacy. Apples and oranges.
And just now McCain has disavowed one Rod Parsley. I wonder of these candidates ever actually go to a church when they're not campaigning. Have they, no anyone in their campaigns, any idea of whom they are pursuing for endorsements? They just seem to assume that all conservative Christians are not very bright & will fall in line if a major conservative Christian leader will sign on with them. To say these guys are pro-Israel is not to say they like the Jewish people. Ask any conservative Evangelical & you will learn quickly that all Jews are going straight to Hell unless they convert to Christianity. Heck, ask Ann Coulter. What these guys are pro, is the state of Israel ushering in the final coming of Christ. Not the Jewish people, the Jewish state, which is not the same thing. Remember the late Jerry Falwell stating that "God cannot hear the prayers of a Jew."? I do. We memebers of the Synagog of Satan, I mean the Whore of Babylon, I mean the Roman Catholic Church have good memories for these things.
Politics can make for strange bedfellows, theology notwithstanding, Mother. Our Church urges us to support pro-life, pro-family candidates even if they are Mormon, Baptist, Evangelical, Jewish or Muslim. The conversion of Israelites was the burning passion of St. Paul (re: Romans 9-11). And if the Jewish people have no need of Christ, why do we not just become Jews?
McCain has already alienated scores of conservatives with his Global Warming shtick, McCain/Feingold, McCain-Kennedy, his voting against the Bush tax cuts, his bizarre siding with the "gang of 14" senators against the confirmation hearings of Bush-nominated Supreme Court justices, etc...
Catholic conservative Dr. Alan Keyes has quit the GOP in disgust over this lurch to the left. I agree that republican leadership seems to take their base for granted, and conservative Christians are none too happy about it. I don't think Dr. Dobson is too thrilled with McCain, either. There will be a lot of conservatives staying home on election day 2008 and a few will register protest votes for a democrat.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am a Mike Huckabee supporter.
I happen to love Pastor Hagee and I am glad he pulled his endorsement of McCain, whom I am very disappointed in! Why? Oh Why?! Did Huckabee have to lose??! He would have made very positive changes.
Anyhoo...I don't even know if I want to vote this year. McCain is too liberal for me and I just don't see any great things happening with him or any of the other candidates.
Leticia, I do think McCain threw Hagee under the bus and was clearly wrong on this issue. Hagee didn't say anything other than to try to explain why God would allow such a terrible thing to happen.
PS... I'm also disapponted in McCain in many areas.