I have a question ... since RWers will use "Wright" to sink Obama's campaign,

[zbdent]

will the Catholics be held to follow, without question, everything the Pope declares? Since the righties always use "abortion" to force their believers to vote Republican, shouldn't they be following the Pope's declarations to the letter? I mean, if Obama's attendance to a church where one paster said some nasty things, then he's tainted by proxy.

So, the Pope recently declared polluting to be a sin, among other things. I also remember something declared not long ago about how Sunday should be held as holy, that sporting events were not to be attended/held, whatever. So, will the righties give up watching NFL football? Going to baseball games? Staying home and praying all day? I doubt it ... "cafeteria Catholics" ...

Also, remember, (and I catch heat for this whenever I bring it up, but hey, I always am reminded that Byrd was in the KKK as a teen) the current Pope was a member of the Hitler Youth ... so doesn't that taint HIM???

[izzie]

1. It is a mind thing. As a Congregationalist you are taught to

think for your self. I believe Bush's man of the cloth was anti-Jew but no one bring that up either. I do not think Baptist are taught to do a lot of thinking for them self but to do as the leader tells them. I do not think they understand where Obama comes from. Course I read Blowback and think we did walk into much of our troubles. I do go along with Johnson and that book. Also, The dropping of The Bomb has been a question since 1945. I think they will take Obama down. Between Clinton and McCain it is going to be one hell of a fight for this man.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. It's funny how the broad brush tactics are used again and again

This reminds me of a thread I participated in yesterday where it was implied that all Muslims follow the fatwas issued by certain imams, which is ridiculous. I know many Christian activists who don't necessarily agree with what their paster says, and many Catholic Christians who think the Pope is nuts.

It all comes down to this, I think: Judging others not by what they do but by what others say.

[iamjoy]

3. And McCain Too

Doesn't he hang with a man who has made anti-Catholic statements? I know he went to the University of the man who blamed 9-11 on the homosexuals and feminists.

[annabanana]

4. It is the MEDIA using Wright to try and sink Obama's campaign.

Encouraged by the RW, of course.

[Zebedeo]

5. I would be curious to find out how frequently Obama

actually attended his "church of the last 20 years."

I hate to suggest it about a fellow Democrat and professed Christian, but is it possible that Obama affiliated himself with TUCC for purely political reasons, and then, like most self-professed Christians, didn't regularly attend church?

[kwassa]

7. I think Obama was heavily influenced by Wright at one point

he talks about that, and Obama took the title of his book "The Audacity of Hope" from one of Wright's sermons.

from today's speech:

And this helps explain, perhaps, my relationship with Reverend Wright. As imperfect as he may be, he has been like family to me. He strengthened my faith, officiated my wedding, and baptized my children. Not once in my conversations with him have I heard him talk about any ethnic group in derogatory terms, or treat whites with whom he interacted with anything but courtesy and respect. He contains within him the contradictions - the good and the bad - of the community that he has served diligently for so many years.

[Zebedeo]

8. Yes,

if you take him at his word, then my supposition is surely incorrect. However, if my supposition were true, I hardly think that Mr. Obama would acknowledge it openly. He's not going to say:

"The truth is that I joined TUCC because it was a very large and influential South Side church, and it was politically advantageous for me to do so. However, I did not regularly attend services there, so that's why I wasn't aware of Rev. Wright's vitriolic sermons."

Mind you, I'm not saying that this was the case. I'm just curious as to whether it might possibly be the case. It could be that Mr. Obama joined TUCC for spiritual, not political reasons, and that he attended church every Sunday. I don't know. I'd be curious to find out. That's all I'm saying.

Frankly, I am extremely disappointed at this whole development. I bought into Mr. Obama's rhetoric about "one America," and healing racial divisions, etc. Rev. Wright's philosophy in this regard appears to be the diametric opposite of the one that Mr. Obama has professed. Now I don't know what to believe about Mr. Obama and the extent to which what he says reflects his true point of view.

[kwassa]

9. I don't think Wright is as different as you think

read this, and learn about the church that Wright built

From the denomination website for the very liberal and very white United Church of Christ, about Trinity UCC, which Wright created. His church is also the largest in the UCC.

thttp://www.ucc.org/news/chicagos-trinity-ucc-is.html


Chicago's Trinity UCC is 'great gift to wider church family'

In the wake of misleading attacks on its mission and ministry, Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ is being lauded by United Church of Christ leaders across the nation for the integrity of its worship, the breadth of its community involvement and the depth of its commitment to social justice.

"Trinity United Church of Christ is a great gift to our wider church family and to its own community in Chicago," says UCC General Minister and President John H. Thomas. "At a time when it is being subjected to caricature and attack in the media, it is critical that all of us express our gratitude and support to this remarkable congregation, to Jeremiah A. Wright for his leadership over 36 years, and

[Zebedeo]

10. And Mussolini made the trains run on time

but that does not excuse his other actions. I'm sure that TUCC does many worthwhile things, and that Rev. Wright has done good as well as evil.

But if I went to church this Sunday and heard my pastor say "God damn America" and foment racialist conspiracies like accusing other races (he is white) of conspiring to introduce AIDS into the white community, and saying that the country's problems are the fault of "rich black people" or "poor black people," I would denounce him on the spot and organize an effort to drive him out and replace him.

Rev. Wright's comments are inexcusable. They are racist, race-baiting, hate-filled, angry, divisive, anti-American and just plain wrong. Whatever other work he has done, and whatever other work TUCC has done, these comments are unacceptable coming from someone who claims to be a man of God.

[kwassa]

11. I think you are incredibly wrong

and I won't re-argue this subject, which has been beaten to death in GDP in hundreds of threads, except to say that I have little respect for those who know little of the black church, black liberation theology, virtually nothing about Wright, and attack Wright based on two carefully selected short video clips.

I note that you repeat the most uninformed arguments.

Wright preaches against racism, sexism, and homophobia, and he does that everywhere. He is not anti-American, he is pro-American.

you just don't get the black church.

[Chovexani]

14. With all due respect (and I'm not being snarky, I really do respect you)

I grew up in the black church, and have been exposed to BLT for most of my life. I soundly reject it, and the black church. Actually I reject church, and nationalism of any sort, period. I can understand why other people find comfort in believing these things, and I don't fault them for it, but I don't and never have.

There's been a lot of BS and misunderstanding about the black church floating around in the last few days, though.

[Zebedeo]

15. If Wright's statements are

perfectly acceptable, as you seem to be asserting, isn't it strange that Mr. Obama has condemned them? Are you saying that Mr. Obama's condemnation is not sincere, but is merely part of a craven political calculation? I would be very disappointed if that were the case. But I don't believe it is.

[heidler1]

6. I doubt that Obama will be hurt by the Pastor issue. The latest polls reflect this.

If you read the DU Discussion Primary posts you will see that only the Hillary supporters appear sure that this has doomed Obama. If you wish long enough and wish strong enough at the end of the day your bag will still be empty.

[moobu2]

12. Apples and oranges

Rev Wright was Baracks very close friend pastor and advisor for 20 years, which is virtually his entire adult life. The Pope is not the close friend and advisor of any Catholic, The Pope never said “God damn America”, the pope isnt american..etc etc etc…

[zbdent]

13. but isn't the Pope supposed to be THE spiritual leader of the Catholics

and the final word on what they should believe???