Pastor John Hagee’s endorsement of John McCain caused something of ruckus after the Catholic League accused him of calling the Catholic church “The Great Whore.”

Then, there were his comments about gays to National Public Radio’s Fresh Air:

“The newspaper carried the story in our local area that was not carried nationally that there was to be a homosexual parade there on the Monday that the Katrina came. And the promise of that parade was that it was going to reach a level of sexuality never demonstrated before in any of the other Gay Pride parades. So I believe that the judgment of God is a very real thing. I know that there are people who demur from that, but I believe that the Bible teaches that when you violate the law of God, that God brings punishment sometimes before the day of judgment.”

Late this afternoon, Hagee issued this:

“As a believing Christian, I see the hand of God in everything that happens here on earth, both the blessings and the curses. But ultimately neither I nor any other person can know the mind of God concerning Hurricane Katrina. I should not have suggested otherwise. No matter what the cause of the storm, my heart goes out to all who suffered in this terrible tragedy. There but for the grace of God go any one of us.”

PHOTO: US Evangelist John Hagee leads a march of Christians in support of Israel in Jerusalem at the beginning of the month. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)