Priest apologizes for Obama car outburst

FAIRFIELD, Calif., Nov. 17 (UPI) -- A Catholic priest in California has apologized for asking that a car bearing several "Obama for President" stickers be removed from the church parking lot.

The Rev. Sebastian Meyer of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Fairfield apologized to his congregation "for the poor judgment I showed in expressing myself" when he sought to have the car removed Nov. 9, The Sacramento (Calif.) Bee reported Monday.

Members of the congregation said Meyer did not make it clear why he wanted the car removed on the day of the incident. However, Meyer insisted Sunday that the request was not politically motivated. He said he wanted the car removed because he thought it was parked illegally.

"The fact is I overreacted, and some of you, including the owner of the car, interpreted my remarks as critical of President-elect (Barack) Obama, when all I really meant to do -- and should have done -- was make a simple announcement asking the owner to move the car," the priest said.

Kevin Eckery, spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, said some parishioners reported that Meyer's statements seemed like a criticism of Obama.

"Either way, we don't condone any of this, and we certainly wouldn't criticize any parishioner for who they voted for," Eckery.

A journalist with the Vacaville Reporter filed a police report Wednesday claiming he was verbally and physically assaulted by Meyer after asking the priest about the incident. Eckery said he did not have any information about the allegations.