t is shaping up to be the fight of Jesse Ventura's political and career, and a case where honesty might not be the best policy -- for some. Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura spent most of yesterday and today in crisis mode, as aides tried to defuse the growing controversy over the remarks the colorful Reform Party figure made in an interview with Playboy Magazine. Covering a wide range of provocative topics, Ventura held forth on issues such as drug legalization, prostitution, and the role of religion in human culture. He told Playboy that that in his opinion, organized religion was "a sham and a crutch for the weak minded. Other opinions reinforced what Ventura had written in his biography, "I Ain't Got Time to Bleed," where he acknowledge smoking marijuana, engaging the services of a prostitute and drinking.

   Now, Ventura is starting to pay a price for his forthrightness -- and it may be high.

   The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights took time out from its campaign to close a controversial art exhibit in New York to blast the free thinking governor, saying that he "has now proven himself to be Jesse 'The Bigot' Ventura." A League broadside added, "Liberty shorn of its religious underpinnings is the real sham, as the Founders and most students of freedom have long understood. But according to the erudite Mr. Ventura, they all got it wrong..."

   "What Ventura is saying is that organized religion has an intrusive, and therefore deleterious, effect on American society," continued the League press release. "To that end, it is only logical that he might seek to check its influence. This bears watching as that is the position of an anti-religious bigot..."

   Others took the colorful wrestler-turned-politician to task as well. Reform Party Chairman Russell Verney told the Washington Post that he was "disgusted and outraged" by the Ventura interview. Only Minnesota Party Chair Rick McCluhan opined that any judgments should wait until people have read the alleged quotes in the context of the full article. The Playboy interview will arrive at news stands on Monday.

    In related developments:

   ¶    Ventura has reportedly written to religious leaders explaining his remarks on faith. The Post notes that he cites instances of "so-called religious leaders zealously marketing their beliefs," by inducing poor people to give "their last dollar for a baptism."

   ¶    According to the Dallas Morning News, Ventura attempted to "clarify" his remarks on religion, and told Associated Press that "he doesn't need it but doesn't condemn those who do, including his wife." The News gives an expanded version of Ventura's letter to religious officials. "I witnessed many instances of so-called religious leaders zealously marketing their beliefs to people too uneducated to comprehend what they were talking about and too poor to afford the money they were being asked to hand over."

   The Minneapolis Star Tribune quoted Ventura further: "While organized religion has not been a major influence in my adult life, I respect the beliefs and choices of others, including my close family members." After criticizing religious groups "zealously marketing their beliefs..." Ventura added: "Yet there they are, handing over their last dollar for a baptism that they were promised was essential. And there were the religious marketers accepting that last dollar. I would think the spirit of religion would put the needs of people and families first and profit last."

   ¶    At a late afternoon press conference on Thursday, Ventura defended his statements. "I think all the religious leaders will forgive me because I think that's what religion's about." He added, "I haven't started any wars throughout time. Has religion?"

   Ventura is finding himself in hot water over other issues that he touched upon in the Playboy interview. He called for legalization of drugs, criticized religion for the current status of prostitution as an illegal activity, and opined that the late President John Kennedy was likely the victim of conspiracy because he intended to wind down the war in Vietnam. "Minnesotan's do not embrace your views on religion, on women, on prostitution, or drugs or conspiracy," Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe told a news conference yesterday in St. Paul. Similar sentiments were voiced by GOP State Chairman Ron Eibensteiner, who suggested that Ventura should resign since his "attacks show he has a fundamental lack of understanding of the world he lives in." Local religious leaders joined in the criticism as well.

   Rev. David Tiede of the Lutheran Seminary in St. Paul told the Star Tribune, "It's very disappointing that the governor has no knowledge of the thoughtfulness of many religious traditions. It shows an ignorance on his part." Sen. Dean Johnson, also a Lutheran minister and chaplain in the Army National Guard added: "In a state where over 70 percent is a member of some organized religion or church, the governor's remarks have struck at one of our core values. Therefore, it's no surprise that some people are angered and disappointed and others are questioning the context and the true meaning of the statement (about organized religion)."

   Along with fueling the national debate over the role of religion in public life, Ventura's remarks could ignite bitter fights within his own Reform Party. Columnist Pat Buchanan is seriously weighing a switch from the Republican Party to the Reform ranks, and may try to capitalize on Ventura's recent statements. Buchanan has already suggested that the GOP has abandoned its core beliefs on important issues like abortion rights, protectionism and the role of values in the public square. Those offended by Ventura's free wheeling -- some say impudent or ill-timed -- remarks could jump on a Buchanan candidacy. Ventura has already made it clear that he does not welcome Buchanan in the Reform Party tent and instead has encouraged millionaire Donald Trump to consider a run for the presidential nomination. It is worth noting that the Catholic League press release on the Ventura flap noted: "We would like to hear from Pat Buchanan and Donald Trump on this subject. We also want to know if Buchanan and Trump will denounce Ventura for his bigotry."

   The Ventura story is bound to recycle on Monday when Playboy hits the stands. In the meantime, it's fair to say that Jesse Ventura has given the American people what many of them say they want -- another opinion, and an independent voice.

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