Keith
Hudson, Father of Katy Perry, Apologizes For Anti-Semitic Remarks
By
Joel Leyden
Israel News Agency
Jerusalem
--- January 10, 2012 .... In a letter addressed to the ADL, Simon
Wiesenthal Center and myself, representing the Israel News
Agency, Keith Hudson, father of singer Katy Perry, apologized
for recently making anti-Semitic remarks.
Yesterday,
I wrote the following letter to Mr. Hudson: Dear Preacher Hudson,
As a man who believes in Jesus Christ - why do you make racist
statements about Jews and money?
You stated:
You know how to make the Jew jealous? Have some money, honey.
"You go to LA and they own all the Rolex and diamond places.
Walk down a part of LA where we live and it is so rich it smells.
You ever smell rich? They are all Jews, hallelujah. Amen."
Jesus Christ
was a poor Jew.
Must the world
remind you of this as you pass the plate for profits that go to
your bank account?
Would you
like to comment on your remarks above for the Israel News Agency
and Google News?
The following
is Mr. Hudson's apology: "I deeply regret the hurtful and
ugly language I used in my message in Ohio. I have had a few days
to think about what I said, and to listen to my words as they
were understood by others.
I am not going
to offer any excuse, or tell you not to think what I did wasn't
so terrible. I do insist, and G-d is my witness - that I am not
an anti-Semite. If anything, my faith as a Christian reminds me,
and always has reminded me, of my special closeness to the Jewish
people.
But that is
the point. We can do lots of harm even to those we love simply
by using words irresponsibly.
I used images about Jews rooted in the worst anti-Semitism in
the past, images that at times led to the persecution and murder
of Jews. I can't tell you where I picked up phrases and descriptions
that became part of my vocabulary. I used them without ever considering
what they meant. I probably would have used them for the rest
of my life, had people not pointed out to me their origin and
evil purpose.
My joy in
life is preaching - using words to call people to G-d. I understand
the power of words, and the need for all of us to think twice
before using words that can hurt or harm others. I apologize for
the hurt that I caused my Jewish friends. With the help of G-d,
it will not happen again. Sincerely, Keith Hudson."
The remarks
were "unabashedly anti-Semitic," said Abe Foxman, national
director of the ADL and author of "Jews
& Money: The Story of a Stereotype".
"Church-based anti-Semitism historically has been one of
the most virulent forms of this disease. We have made much progress
in this country in terms of religiously based anti-Semitism. That's
why this manifestation is so disturbing. It is always much worse
when it comes out on a religious platform, when an individual
who is looked up to as a religious leader gives the old anti-Semitic
stereotypes a patina of renewed credibility."
Upon hearing
of Hudson's apology, Foxman added: "We welcome Keith Hudson's
apology and believe he now better understands why his words were
so anti-Semitic and hurtful. Religious leaders bear a responsibility
to speak out against anti-Semitism and it seems Mr. Hudson now
realizes the power of his words."
Simon Wiesenthal
Center founder Rabbi Marvin Hier said the comments were reminiscent
of the Nazi era, Hitler and something that his propaganda chief,
Joseph Goebbles would have said.
But perhaps
worse than what Hudson said and then apologized for was Paul Endrei,
the senior pastor at the Church on the Rise in Westlake, Ohio,
where the comments were made. Endrei appeared to whitewash the
incident saying: "The statement he was trying to make was
positive, but it was taken out of context." How can: "You
ever smell rich? They are all Jews" be taken out of context?
And this is in light of Hudson's apology clearly and openly admitting
that he had done wrong!
Mr. Hudson,
I accept your apology on one condition. That you discuss the dangers
of anti-Semitism for the next three months in the sermons that
you provide as a preacher for the Keith and Mary Hudson Ministries.
Anti-Semitism and all forms of racial hatred and bigotry have
no place on this earth.
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