SWAGGART APOLOGIZES

After making remarks that he would "kill" a homosexual man who looked at him "like that" discredited televevangelist Jimmy Swaggart has apologized:

On Wednesday, Swaggart said he has jokingly used the expression "killing someone and telling God he died" thousands of times, about all sorts of people. He said the expression is figurative and not meant to harm.

"It's a humorous statement that doesn't mean anything. You can't lie to God -- it's ridiculous," Swaggart told The Associated Press. "If it's an insult, I certainly didn't think it was, but if they are offended, then I certainly offer an apology."

One hopes that Volokh is satisfied with my denunciations. I'd hate to lose sleep if he's not.

Meanwhile, Christianity Today's weblog offers this insight:

One might think that someone who has publicly experienced brokenness in his sexuality might be a bit more careful in his words. In this line of thinking, wouldn't the prostitute that Swaggart hired have been justified in killing him?

Just so.