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.

They've already made up their minds.

Non-English/Nonsense post
2/3 have voted to delete this thread

2/4 have voted to delete this thread, at least 7 delete votes out of 10 are needed to auto delete this thread.

Sadly the only thing Hillary will be doing to stop this even after she loses is to give them more metal for more chains and stir the concrete for that block. We are starting to see Hillary's true colors. She only cares about Hillary and the power she can get. She doesn't care about the people, she doesn't care about the country, she cares about the power. Sad! She is only helping the republicans win.

I know if she hoodwinks her way into the nomination I am sitting this one out. McCain and Hillary are disgusting and both are bad for our country. Obama is not much better but at least he is the best out of the pile of crap we call presidential candidates.

It is also true that those who have already made up their mind to support him will not be convinced otherwise.

He was so full of anger, rage and sounded like a fanatic. Frankly, I am surprised this man was Obama's spiritual mentor for so long.

We are supposed to be trying to move beyond such divisive, biased mindsets of a dark past.

This somehow assumes that Obama was listening to the man speak in this manner, and that seems not to be the case. If he wasn't speaking like that then, it's misleading to present this type of speech as being part of daily life at this church, and thus being something Obama was directly exposed to.

Well, if you think about it Suthn Boy, they lived in the community in which they served for a long time. The south side of Chicago probably does not have a lot of churches that do not have this line of thinking. It's a very impoverished community and heavily black. I am willing to bet that most of his other choices for a church would have the same message being delivered if not moreso.

So, you're an authority about churches on the southside of Chicago? and you live in Muskegon, Michigan? I find your generalization insulting to people of southside Chicago.