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.
[...] glad that Obama has condemned his pastor’s controversial statements, but Joseph Farah is right: If your pastor was saying stuff like that, would you stay in that [...]
Obama never heard the statements made by Wright, He claims he is a regular church goer. The vitriol spewed by Wright is a continuing theme, not just a once in a Blue Moon diatribe. So either Obama has the attention span of a gnat or he is a liar. It is that simple.
Obama is disingenuous to imply he knew nothing about his ministers hate speech.I know the philosophy of my church and also know that if my minister espoused hate speech like Rev. Wright I would run away from that church as fast as I could and never return.This type of hate speech gives religion in general and christianity,in particular,a bad name
My father said “you are known by the company you keep” I think he was right
An objective consideration of someone running for president whose middle name is Hussein and whose pastor and friend states “God damn America” is not conclusive in itself but when taken together with his behavior on the Bible, national anthem, & flag certainly is grounds for concern. Isn’t there a large descrepency between embracing Jesus and the Koran?
Dear Anderson Cooper,
With reference to Rev. Wright’s sermon which was recorded in 2003, I find it ironic how Barack Obama stated “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.”
Again, I repeat this recording on http://www.youtube.com took place in 2003 which was way before the beginning of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. In fact, Rev. Wright’s 2003 sermon took place 5 years prior to his retirement. Isn’t it also ironic that Rev. Wright retired in February 2008 to join Barack Obama’s political campaign as a spiritual advisor. After the firestorm tape recording is causing Barack Obama some trouble, Barack is now claiming that Rev. Wright will not be joining his political team as a spiritual advisor.
To the silver tongued Senator from Illinois:
Actions always speak louder than words. You called him your mentor, and joined his church.
You asked him to marry you and MIchelle, and you regularly pay a healthy tithe to his organization.
Willingly, for 20 years, you have associated with a large number of people, who were in attendance,
and are on tape wildly clapping for his rascist’s words, obviously in 100% agreement with his brand
of HATE. No wonder you refuse to wear a flag lapel pin, or put your hand over your heart during
the National Anthem. It’s not an active part of your personal belief system. Now, knowing this, I
question the integrity of your desire to be the President of this great country … and doubt you have
the right stuff to lead the free world anywhere good.
Its hard to believe that Senator Obama was not aware of this ministers
beliefs as he was his minister,,,his friend for years and that he did not hear him make any of these staements is kinda hard to swallow
I admire Mr. Obama for publicly distancing himself from his pastor but could not help but notice that he more than once mentioned the fact that he had not “personally” sat in the pews or heard the reverend speak as the national media and even Mr. Obama himself alleges. I am troubled however that “anyone” could be member of any religious affiliation for 20 years, was married by and had children baptised by the pastor in question, had obviously had a few if not many personal conversations with…, (remember we are talking about a national politician running for President here), and still not be fully aware what the church or pastor espouses, both publically and more so, privately. Most companies call this their “Mission Statement”, and all their actions supposedly stem from that statement. With such a visible church and so many instances of his pastor’s obvious beliefs, statements, and behavior available in the media and for sale on tape and CD’s, I must still try and put myself into his situation… I am left with the belief that over any relative period of time, I would know enough that my true inner and moral beliefs were being violated by what I had seen, heard, or known to be true. I would have no other choice than to find another place of worship. What are we other than what we believe? The belief is written as an American of spiritual belief and using everyday common sense. I must believe if my vocation was in the political field…, especially at the national level, I would have “really” left this church a very long, long time ago… Unless of course, I actually believed in what the church and its pastor espoused…
It is what it is…, nothing more…, nothing less. I am disappointed in the Politispeak answer given by Mr. Obama. It just doesn’t make any sense “unless” he himself believes in these views… It’s that simple.
Obama is a GOOD politician and an untruthful one. Just the statements that the church has indicates that their mother country is Africa and there is more allegiance to Africa than to our country. How sad!!
Good.
We may not like what Wright said, but McCains spritual advisor is a national security risk.
tehran times : McCain advisor: Destroy IslamTelevangelist Rod Parsley, a key McCain ally in Ohio and his spiritual adviser, has called for eradicating Islam as a ‘false religion’. …
http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=165092 - 24k