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 representative for the church.