Posted on 03/14/2008 1:51:14 PM PDT by pissant
Barack Obama's campaign has sent The Brody File here at CBN News a statement regarding the controversy swirling around his former pastor Jeremiah Wright.
Read it below:
The pastor of my church, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who recently preached his last sermon and is in the process of retiring, has touched off a firestorm over the last few days. He's drawn attention as the result of some inflammatory and appalling remarks he made about our country, our politics, and my political opponents.
Let me say at the outset that I vehemently disagree and strongly condemn the statements that have been the subject of this controversy. I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies. I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue, whether it's on the campaign stump or in the pulpit. In sum, I reject outright the statements by Rev. Wright that are at issue.
Because these particular statements by Rev. Wright are so contrary to my own life and beliefs, a number of people have legitimately raised questions about the nature of my relationship with Rev. Wright and my membership in the church. Let me therefore provide some context.
As I have written about in my books, I first joined Trinity United Church of Christ nearly twenty years ago. I knew Rev. Wright as someone who served this nation with honor as a United States Marine, as a respected biblical scholar, and as someone who taught or lectured at seminaries across the country, from Union Theological Seminary to the University of Chicago. He also led a diverse congregation that was and still is a pillar of the South Side and the entire city of Chicago. It's a congregation that does not merely preach social justice but acts it out each day, through ministries ranging from housing the homeless to reaching out to those with HIV/AIDS.
Most importantly, Rev. Wright preached the gospel of Jesus, a gospel on which I base my life. In other words, he has never been my political advisor; he's been my pastor. And the sermons I heard him preach always related to our obligation to love God and one another, to work on behalf of the poor, and to seek justice at every turn.
The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach while I sat in the pews of Trinity or heard him utter in private conversation. When these statements first came to my attention, it was at the beginning of my presidential campaign. I made it clear at the time that I strongly condemned his comments. But because Rev. Wright was on the verge of retirement, and because of my strong links to the Trinity faith community, where I married my wife and where my daughters were baptized, I did not think it appropriate to leave the church.
Let me repeat what I've said earlier. All of the statements that have been the subject of controversy are ones that I vehemently condemn. They in no way reflect my attitudes and directly contradict my profound love for this country.
With Rev. Wright's retirement and the ascension of my new pastor, Rev. Otis Moss, III, Michelle and I look forward to continuing a relationship with a church that has done so much good. And while Rev. Wright's statements have pained and angered me, I believe that Americans will judge me not on the basis of what someone else said, but on the basis of who I am and what I believe in; on my values, judgment and experience to be President of the United States.
What's your reaction to the statement? I will have more followup soon. Stand by.
he chose this church.
he sent his children there. disgusting
He’s a 3rd generation Muslim who has worshiped Islam his whole life, regardless of what the front door says on his church. He can’t hide from it, and he won’t convince anyone who pays attention.
His wife just brought greetings last week from Pastor Jeremiah to some church she was campaigning in.
Right.....those Dumbo ears NEVER heard his preacher of 20 years EVER utter any America hating black racist crap....
I wonder if the moderator would allow me to call Obama a ^%&^ ^%$$#@$#^%$ ^%$%##% #$^%$#$ #$%^#45 lying #$@$$#$ $&%%$
Whenever I heard anything that deviated from the 14 years of bible study and Confirmation courses for a four hour every Saturday, for two years before I could take my first communion, I backed politely out of the door and waived “Adieu”. My theology was given to me by some of the greatest Christian men from Eden Seminary (which my grandmother helped to build with every little bit of extra money should could manage). Bottom line, Barry should have booked it the moment his Pastor jumped the shark.
Activate the Damage Control Team!
Barack Obama’s mentor Hillary aint never been called a ..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPjVp3PLnVs
And that's why Rev. Wright is Obama's spiritual advisor and a member, at least informally, of his campaign staff.
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I wonder how long this retirement has been in the works?
So he sits in church violently condemning the preacher? Doesn't sound like a good way to find inner peace....
Welcome to the flock. ;)
Didn’t Wright already serve as the church’s pastor when B. Hussein Obama joined? It’s not like “this has been my church since I grew up, and even though I don’t like the pastor, I would still stay here because of the church or the congregation.” It is more likely that B. Hussein Obama joined the church because he was attracted to Wright’s racist sermons.
He called Jesus a ‘poor black man’. Wonder why he didn’t say ‘poor black jew’...
Barack Obama - Yes We Can music video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHEO_fG3mm4
There certainly not much about preaching or worshiping Jesus in this 'church's' Statement... But an awful lot about worshiping race:
About Us
We are a congregation which is Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian... Our roots in the Black religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are an African people, and remain "true to our native land," the mother continent, the cradle of civilization. God has superintended our pilgrimage through the days of slavery, the days of segregation, and the long night of racism. It is God who gives us the strength and courage to continuously address injustice as a people, and as a congregation. We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a Black worship service and ministries which address the Black Community.
The Pastor as well as the membership of Trinity United Church of Christ is committed to a 10-point Vision:
A congregation committed to ADORATION.
A congregation preaching SALVATION.
A congregation actively seeking RECONCILIATION.
A congregation with a non-negotiable COMMITMENT TO AFRICA.
A congregation committed to BIBLICAL EDUCATION.
A congregation committed to CULTURAL EDUCATION.
A congregation committed to the HISTORICAL EDUCATION OF AFRICAN PEOPLE IN DIASPORA.
A congregation committed to LIBERATION.
A congregation committed to RESTORATION.
A congregation working towards ECONOMIC PARITY.
So Mr. Obama was a member of this church for 20 years? A one week membership deserves a flush.
By the way -- and as an aside: Mr. Obama's disclaimer talks about how in his 20 year membership at this church he was married and his two children were baptized....... Given that Mr. Obama was never a member of a church prior to tucc (possibly a member of a mosque as a child, but never a member of a church)... does this mean that Mr. ('committed Christian') Obama has never been baptized? Now I'm not one to claim that water gets one saved (its the washing of the Holy Spirit that does this work), but interesting nonetheless (and adding credence to the claims that Mr. Obama may still maintain mohammedan 'affections')...
” I joined that church for the music”
As usual we jump the gun. By Nov. this will be old news.
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