After taking a drubbing by the media Wednesday for using the influence of prison on sexuality as an argument that choice is “absolutely” involved in homosexuality, Dr. Ben Carson said that he was not going to talk about gay marriage anymore.

In an interview with Sean Hannity Wednesday, Carson said he had decided that he’s not going to talk about same-sex marriage and the complex issue of sexuality anymore because the liberal press is constantly trying to use the issue to derail his “momentum.”

"I simply have decided I’m not going to really talk about that issue anymore," said Carson, "because every time I gain momentum, the liberal press says, ‘let’s talk about gay rights.’ I’m just not going to fall for that anymore."

Carson also issued an apology on Facebook Wednesday in which he said the language he used in the CNN interview did not “reflect fully my heart on gay issues” and reiterated his belief in the constitutional protections of gay couples through civil unions as well as his belief that states should have the right to define marriage. Here’s the full text of the apology:

In a recent interview on CNN, I realized that my choice of language does not reflect fully my heart on gay issues.

I do not pretend to know how every individual came to their sexual orientation. I regret that my words to express that concept were hurtful and divisive. For that I apologize unreservedly to all that were offended.

I'm a doctor trained in multiple fields of medicine, who was blessed to work at perhaps the finest institution of medical knowledge in the world. Some of our brightest minds have looked at this debate, and up until this point there have been no definitive studies that people are born into a specific sexuality. We do know, however, that we are always born male and female. And I know that we are all made in God's image, which means we are all deserving of respect and dignity.

I support human rights and Constitutional protections for gay people, and I have done so for many years. I support civil unions for gay couples, and I have done so for many years. I support the right of individual states to sanction gay marriage, and I support the right of individual states to deny gay marriage in their respective jurisdictions.

I also think that marriage is a religious institution. Religious marriage is an oath before God and congregation. Religious marriage must only be governed by the church. Judges and government must not be allowed to restrict religious beliefs.

I am not a politician and I answered a question without really thinking about it thoroughly. No excuses. I deeply regret my statement and I promise you, on this journey, I may err again, but unlike politicians when I make an error I will take full responsibility and never hide or parse words. As a human being my obligation is to learn from my mistakes and to treat all people with respect and dignity.