(Radio Iowa)  – Democratic Congresswoman Cindy Axne says remarks she made during an online forum that were recently broadcast on Fox News program were misinterpreted. Host Tucker Carlson criticized Axne’s reference to “anti-vaxxer crazies” and he accused Axne of hating human beings.

“As this talking head normally does, it’s taken out of context and completely misconstrued and, as a matter of fact, he put words in my mouth,” Axne says. During the brief video segment played on Fox, Axne appears to be commenting on the recent uproar over mask mandates in schools and she’s heard suggesting the situation is a “hot mess.” Here’s what Axne had to say to reporters on Monday:

“I’m frustrated by folks around this country who use religion as a way to deny science and put our communities at risk because I grew up as a Catholic saying that you support people in your community, you serve others,” Axne said, “and you put others above yourself.” After a meeting with constituents in Norwalk, Axne told reporters the Christian right is wrong to try to weaponize religious to make political points.

“We’ve got to stop. We’ve just got to stop,” Axne says. “I hope that, as a country, we should come together as a country better and realize that we should be talking to the people, like I’m doing right now and going out and talking to the people I serve, as opposed to trying to create false narratives.” State and national Republican groups have criticized Axne’s remarks on the Fox video, in which she’s heard saying the Christian right uses the cross like a political weapon.

A spokesman for the Iowa G-O-P called the remark disgusting. The Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition says Axne is out of step with the overwhelmingly Christian culture in Iowa. Axne, who describes herself as a life long Catholic, suggests she’s following the words of Pope Francis.  “I’m not sure when we’re going to get past having the public understand that what they see on Fox television is being misinterpreted,” Axne says.

Last month, the pope said the cross should not be used as a political symbol or a flag to wave.