Jeremiah Wright Sounds Off At Eulogy for Chicago Judge
FILE Photo: Rev. Jeremiah Wright delivers the sermon at a funeral service at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago on Dec. 23, 2000. (AP Photo)
Rev. Jeremiah Wright told a congregation in Norfolk, Va., on Sunday that reporters sneaked into a private funeral service a day before, in which he blasted America’s founding fathers for slavery and white supremacy and received standing ovations for attacking FOX News for covering his anti-American sermons.
Barack Obama’s retiring pastor delivered a sermon at Bank Street Memorial Baptist Church, where his late uncle had been the pastor, about overcoming trouble. The public appearance was his first since news broke that the Democratic presidential candidate’s pastor frequently rails on the United States.
“Some troubles that come up in your life come up out of nowhere,” Wright said. At the end of the two-hour-plus service, about two dozen ministers gathered around Wright and his daughter to pray for them. One of the ministers asked God to give Wright courage as “the world tries to demonize him.”
Though Wright said nothing about Obama or the uproar itself, he alluded to the controversy while briefly back in the pulpit Saturday to deliver a eulogy for a late congregant of Trinity United Church of Christ — former appellate judge R. Eugene Pincham.
Wright, who is on sabbatical before retiring from Trinity United, said America’s mistreatment of blacks is the result of the founding fathers, who “planted slavery and white supremacy in the DNA of this republic.”
First reported by The Chicago Sun Times, Wright told mourners at the funeral that Thomas Jefferson, who partook in “pedophilia,” would also be considered unpatriotic these days because he wrote, “God would punish America for the sin of slavery.” He also quoted Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who said that the U.S. has a “congenital birth defect.”
Speaking of the seven lessons Pincham taught him, Wright said the judge’s faith “was not the jingoistic, chauvinistic ‘you’re either with us or against us’ demonizing kind of faith.”
“FOX News can’t understand that,” Wright said to rousing cheers and applause. “[Bill] O’Reilly will never get that. Sean Hannity’s stupid fantasy will keep him forever stuck on stupid when it comes to comprehending how you can love a brother who does not believe what you believe. [Pincham’s] faith was a faith in a God who loved the whole world not just one country or one creed.”
Click here to hear Rev. Wright’s sermon.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The United States did not have a perfect beginning. I don’t know of any society with an unblemished history. Mr Wright talks about exposing our history. We have not hidden from our history. On the contrary, we have confronted it head on.
The beauty of our country is that we have learned from our mistakes and continue to do so, and we stive to constantly improve as a society. While still not perfect, we have one of the most diverse, tolerant and progressive societies on the face of the planet. I prefer to live in the present, not dwell on past wrongdoings. To do so will serve nothing more than to stir up old hatreds and prejudices. For this reason, I serioulsy distrust Referend Wright’s motives.
Yes we had slavery, but we abolished slavery. Yes, even today, we have remnants of prejudice, bigotry and racism, and alas, may always have a percentage of our society that harbors such thoughts. Mr Wright’s forcus should be on how far the United States has come since its inception. God Bless America. Two hundred years in the making - and still progressing
Rev Wright get bent, I am a Dem and an American and I love all of it good and bad. You leave a bad taste with anyone attach to you. My husband fought in Iraq for everyone not just whites, Rev Wright you need help. Go Bill Orielly stay on him.
I’d like to ask Mr. Wright if he has ever read the Bible from Genesis to Revelations. Surely not. The Bible is a book written by men inspired of God and is full of wonderful treasures. If he would read and study Gods Word he would learn, among other things, that God teaches us to do good to those who despitefully use us and to pray for our enemies. If he thinks white people are his enemies because of the slavery trade in the past, then he needs to have his church pray………..not teach them to hate. A person who lives in the past never has a present.
He has to be one bitter and miserable man.
I thought the sermon was really good and well prepared…I’am unsure what the other listeners heard that garnered the responses above. It seemed they all had preconceived thoughts or ideas concerning Rev Wright prior to listening. None made any comments concerning the direct issues Rev, Wright raised concerning our history. As a black man I was moved and outraged that that this man of God has been treated and demonized by so many fair-minded individuals!
My grandmother was ( she died at the age of 105, her mother 110) was 100% blackfoot native American. They love this country and NEVER cried poor poor me for what the white people did to her mother and father etc. SHe loved THIS LAND!!!!! And to hear this so called MAN of GOD PREACH HIS HATE. Just HURTS my soul. I have had family in all the wars that were and now they defended this great nation. Sure it has had its bitter time in its history , but this is now and these hateful . hateful words cuts this nation and leaves her to bleed. As long as this goes on she will never heal. I nor my family see color we see what is deep in your soul and that is how you take the measure of a man Even though some think it ,Obama is no MARTIN or Bobby or JFK and yet he THINKS he is just watch him walk all I have heard is change that is what I am afraid of what is his change?. As Martin thank you for giving me time.
outland - When Obama looses the presidential race this will certainly have been a factor. It is NOT Jeremiah Wright’s fault, however, it is Obama’s. Wright could have stayed out there preaching hatred all he wanted and it wouldn’t have had an effect on the election. It is Obama’s decision to follow Wright, to support Wright, and to spread Wright’s message and base his book on Wright’s teachings that causes concern.
If Obama somehow loses the Democratic nomination, he can probably thank Jeremiah Wright.
Reverand Wright( If you can truly call him that) proved through his comments that he is a raciast and truly should be held accountable for his acts of treason toward our contry during time of war. For Obama to sit in this hateful atmosphere for 20 years shows his own character! He wants to be our Commander in Chief! God help US! If the shoe was on the other foot McCain would of been run out of the country.
Jena-6, James Byrd, Shawn Bell, Abner Louima, Columbia University noose, Long Island N.Y. Police Dept- noose, Colorado race riot honoring Hitler’s Birthday.
He is the perfect example of disconnected dope!