Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, issued a press release today criticizing John McCain for publicly thanking Rev. John Hagee for his endorsement. Hagee is the author of several books that contain anti-Catholic statements and falsehoods about the history of the Church. 

I was critical of Mike Huckabee for preaching at Hagee's church in San Antonio and recommended he be aware of that kind of attitude in the Evangelical community. 

Now John McCain, in his search for friends on the Religious Right, has found one in Rev. Hagee.  I will say to John McCain the same thing I said to Mike Huckabee: There is anti-Catholicism in our culture, some of which is found among Evangelical Christians; you should be aware of this and not do anything that promotes this attitude or those who espouse it.  

In 2000, the McCain campaign made thousands of calls to Catholics in Michigan with the message that George W. Bush had appeared at Bob Jones University where anti-Catholic statements could be found on their web site.  

Clearly, McCain and his campaign advisors know anti-Catholicism is a big issue with Catholic voters.

I would hope that this is the only time the McCain campaign will hit this trip-wire.