White House spokesman Joe Lockhart had apologized for his comments linking the Southern Baptist Convention to organizations that “perpetuate ancient religious hatred.”
Responding to a letter from two Republican congressmen declaring President Clinton should demand Lockhart’s resignation, the spokesman said he was sorry is his words made it appear he was criticizing Southern Baptists.
“It was certainly not my intention to make that case,” Lockhart said, the Associated Press reported.
Lockhart said he was attempting to focus on the president’s long-held support of religious tolerance and “it was never my intention to single out anyone” when he responded to a question about the alleged perpetuating of religious hatred.
“I think the president has made very clear his view from any quarter, no matter what quarter it comes from, his views on religious tolerance, and how one of the greatest challenges going into the next century is dealing with ethnic and religious hatred, and coming to grips with the long-held resentments between religions,” Lockhart said in answer to a question at a Dec. 16 press briefing about recent Southern Baptist efforts to pray for and evangelize Hindus, Jews and Muslims.
The Dec. 23 letter from Reps, J.C. Watts, R-Okla., and J.D. Hayworth, R-Ariz., said Lockhart’s comments were “blatant bigotry against a particular religious group.”
Haywood called for Lockhart’s resignation, along with RE. J.C. Watts following Lockhart’s comments.
Southern Baptist leaders also voiced strong opposition to Lockhart’s remarks.
“Apparently, because the president has very few convictions, he harbors deep resentment against those who do,” SBC President Paige Patterson said. “I would say that the president or his press secretary or both have once again demonstrated that the one thing for which they have no regard is truth.”
Southern Baptists have been criticized in some quarters for their prayer booklets that focus on Hindus, Jews, and Muslims. Denominational officials defend their evangelistic work as an integral part of their acting out their faith.
Patterson, commenting on Lockhart’s statement, said “a good case could be made for the fact that the deliberate dissemination of false information about a group should qualify as a hate crime within itself” due to the possibility that announcements made in error could “engender hostility” toward that group.
Morris H. Chapman, president of SBC’s executive committee, said he considers Lockhart’s remarks “hate speech” and a “bullying tactic.”
Share with others: