Ben Carson. Photo: STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images

Ben Carson’s apology tour continued this afternoon in an e-mail that was sent, according to its subject line, to “the Hopkins Community“:

Dear Colleagues, Friends and Associates: As you know, I have been in the national news quite a bit recently and my 36 year association with Johns Hopkins has unfortunately dragged our institution into the spotlight as well. I am sorry for any embarrassment this has caused. But what really saddens me is that my poorly chosen words caused pain for some members of our community and for that I offer a most sincere and heartfelt apology. Hurting others is diametrically opposed to who I am and what I believe. There are many lessons to be learned when venturing into the political world and this is one I will not forget. Although I do believe marriage is between a man and a woman, there are much less offensive ways to make that point. I hope all will look at a lifetime of service over some poorly chosen words. Sincerely yours, Benjamin S Carson Sr MD

Only a few minutes earlier, Paul Rothman — “the Dean of the Medical Faculty, vice president for medicine of The Johns Hopkins University, and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine” — had sent out an e-mail of his own admonishing Carson for his “hurtful, offensive” language on gay marriage: