RAW DATA: Obama’s Statement Condemning His Pastor’s Controversial Sermons
The following statement was released by the Barack Obama campaign Friday in response to criticism over sermons delivered by his pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr.:
On My Faith and My Church
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.
And this man wants to be President. Let’s us not forget Oprah too is long member of this same church.
Obama needs to sever ties with this racist and bigoted church. Many of his supporters are caucasian Americans and if this pastor preaches hatred of the white race, then Obama should have nothing further to do with the congregation, albeit the church, if he wants to get elected. I am tired of hearing about their ancestors and how hard they had it. Whereas that may be true, it is time to move on and get over it. When you do nothing but dwell in the past and feel sorry for yourself, you wallow in a self pity that even God cannot heal.
I believe you Mr Obama. You’re a gentleman to the core. A man of honor and integrity, with unquestionable patriotic zeal for a united and progressive America devoid of racial cleavages and leanings.
Wake up people! Isn’t this the same Barack who’s being castigated for offering to reach out to both allies and adversaries of the United States? What does that tell of him? A man of peace!!
His integrative style of politics is what attracts people to him. What I have seen of Obama so far in his campaign trail transcends Rev. Wright’s divisive sermon.
You can’t judge a man by what others say or do - regardless of who he mingles with - after all Jesus mixed with harlots and other social misfits without staining his sanctity or reducing the reverence people had and still has for him.
If I was in Obama’s position I would say that too. To look better in the public eye, he will tell the voters what he thinks they want to hear. Actions speak louder than words. It would be wisr to remember that!
folks, the comments you heard Rev Wright spew can be heard almost any sunday at 30-50 percent of all black churches in this country. and in a white church, you know what i heard every sunday? i heard that gays, interracial couples, pot smokers, beer drinkers and other sorts deemed “sinful” were all destroying society and should be converted or shunned. Religion is the most problematic things a candidate for public office can have. why? because all religion is based on persecuting people who arent part of your belief system. Shame on Obama for attending this mans church for all of those years while this sort of thing was being said. Shame on my white grandmother for listening to her preacher too. and shame on the democrats who pushed Trent Lott out of power for saying NICE THINGS about Strom Thurmand at a birthday party, and then acting like we cant hold Obama accountable for saying NICE THINGS about calypso louie and this moron pastor. WAKE UP AMERICA.
Duh….like I really believe this. Obama has shown in many ways that he is not a loyal patriotic man who loves his country. Consider the comment his wife made about not ever being proud of America until her husband’s run for the presidency. Also why did he not put his hand over his heart while the Star-Spangled Banner was being played…others did. His lack was so noticeable. Hussein also will bring difficulties as a middle name. While I know he had no control over his middle name at birth he could change it now as a matter of good faith, knowing that it will upset many and cause others to gloat. This is just what I believe. Thanks for the opportunity to sound off.
if you are a religious person and your spiritural advisor does not hold more weight than tour political advisor, you are trying to live on both sides of the street, a real phoney
Noware in the Gospel of Jesus, does it preach the hate and contempt that the Rev. Wright expresses for the US in his sermons.
I find it hard to believe that Barak Obama could have been a member of that congregation and have the close relstionship with the reverend that he admits to and not be aware of his sermons. They were videoed and recorded!
How gullible does he think the American public is?
It is NOT possible to know a minister/mentor/friend for 20 years and not know what is in his heart. Barack Obama is just another lying, self-serving Chicago pol.
I don’t understand how he could be a member and listen over the years to this pastor and not know what his pastor believed. I know that most people in the United States after 911 attend church services that’s why I find it had to believe that he was not present for that sermon.