Chris Matthews Explains 'If You're Really Anti-Gay, You Become a Catholic Now' Comment

MSNBC's Chris Matthews made comments last night that will certainly be taken negatively by some people who embrace the Catholic faith.

"If you're really anti-gay, you become a Catholic now," he reportedly proclaimed during the "Presidential Leadership Panel," an event focusing upon politics in America.

Following the panel discussion, which also featured Civil War expert Harold Holzer and presidential historian Michael Beschloss, Scott Whitlock of the Media Research Center asked Matthews -- an admitted Catholic himself -- to clarify his comment about Catholics and homosexuality.

"Earlier tonight, you were talking about Nixon and the Southern Strategy and bigotry and things like that you and you said, quote, 'If you're really anti-gay, you become a Catholic now,'" Whitlock said. "I was wondering if you were saying that bigots become Catholic now and if you wanted to expand or apologize for that?"

Matthews responded, doubling down on his comment, while simultaneously attempting to tempter it. An apology, of course, wasn't in order.

"I think there are people who have chosen to convert to the Catholic faith because they don't like the liberal positions taken by their sectarian groups," Matthews explained. "That's a fact. So, you can write that down. No, you can write that down."

Whitlock, though, wasn't done pushing the issue.

"So, you're saying Catholicism is drawing bigots? Is that what you're saying?," he asked.

"I'm saying that some people who are bigoted against gay people have changed religions," Matthews answered. "Yes. You got it right."

Here's the awkward back-and-forth:

(H/T: Newsbusters)