AUGUSTA – The Christian activist who prompted a firestorm of criticism when he asked people to e-mail him tips about which Maine lawmakers might be homosexual got plenty of responses, but not the sort he had hoped for.

The Christian Civic League of Maine has received between 400 and 500 e-mails – mostly negative, said Executive Director Michael Heath.

“I did not anticipate the level of anger that I would inspire,” Heath said Friday after two days of uproar that made the national news.

Heath was universally condemned Wednesday, the same day a newspaper story about his request was published.

Gov. John Baldacci called the league’s action “an offense of the highest order deserving all of the condemnation I can muster.” Lawmakers wore pink triangles as a show of protest against the organization’s tactics.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland joined the chorus of critics on Friday, issuing a statement chastising Heath but also calling for lawmakers to forgive him and put the matter to rest.

“Mike’s actions, regardless of intentions relative to issues of sexual orientation, were offensive and not in keeping with Catholic teachings about the dignity of the human person,” said diocesan spokesman Marc Mutty.