Oh, Jesus: when Jennifer Hudson and Carol Channing referred to their religious faith in two recent gay-press interviews, all hell broke loose. How boring.

Gay and lesbians become anxious when they hear anything that sounds remotely like proselytizing." These words are attributed to Jennifer Hudson in the Dallas Voice, a regional gay newspaper, in an article titled "Dreamgirl' Says, Gay Is a Sin." A month before this incendiary interview, the Gay People's Chronicle, a local Cleveland publication, got national attention by quoting 85-year-old Carol Channing as saying of homosexuality, "You know what the Bible says about that."

After these interviews hit the Web and respective mini furors broke out, beth actresses released statements denying the quotes and proclaiming appreciation for their gay fans. Each, ironically, used religion to defend herself--Hudson pointing out that the Bible directs us not to judge others and to love thy neighbor as thyself.

Lord knows we've heard those holy sentiments from the James Dobsous and Pat Robertsons of the world. But they talk tolerance and then try to hurt us every day. Common sense should make us think before we lump them in with a couple of sparkly divas who--like vast numbers of us--happen to have been raised in church.

We do have good reason to become leery when our icons exhibit signs of hypocrisy. It would be wrong for a star to dip into the gay press's inkwell to help open a movie or show and then go home and douse herself in Purell while saying three Haft Marys and two Our Fathers. But it doesn't appear that these women did that.

After Hudson's Voice interview broke, her representatives contacted The Advocate to say that she was in tears, devastated she would be seen as judgmental of gay people. Hudson then released a statement: "I love my sister, my two best friends, and my director dearly. They happen to be gay. So what? ... I find it upsetting that some folks equate being a Christian with being intolerant of gay people." Isn't that exactly what many gays and lesbians think?

We received numerous angry letters responding to our December 19 Hudson cover story, mostly from people who didn't read our piece but dismissed the young star based on her Voice interview. Readers were ready to write off Hudson as hateful just because she refuses to denounce her faith and declare the Bible a lie. But religion and tolerance are not mutually exclusive. When we disrespect someone who's honestly trying to find her way, we all look bad.