Hanks to Mormons: Sorry for Prop 8 Remark

The Oscar winner issues regrets calling Mormons who supported the anti-gay ballot measure "un-American."

Tom Hanks isn't getting big love from some sectors of the Mormon community.

The Oscar-winner is softening his critique of Mormons after coming under attack by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for calling supporters of California's anti-gay marriage ballot initiative "un-American."

"The truth is a lot of Mormons gave a lot of money to the church to make Prop 8 happen," Hanks said at last week's L.A. premiere of Big Love, the HBO series he executive produces about polygamist Mormons. "There are a lot of people who feel that is un-American, and I am one of them."

Uh-oh!

A rep for the church fired back to Fox News (where else?), "Expressing an opinion in a free democratic society is as American as it gets."

Hanks issued a statement earlier today expressing regret over his choice of words. "I believe Proposition 8 is counter to the promise of our Constitution; it is codified discrimination," the statement reads in part. "But everyone has a right to vote their conscience. Nothing could be more America."

Hanks also said in the statement that using the term "un-American" creates even more unncessary division: "No one," he said "should use 'un-American' lightly or in haste."

A rep for Hanks could not be immediately reached, nor could a spokesperson for the church.