Name of Obama's pastor 'is being assassinated'
TRINITY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST | Leaders lash out at critics
Sen. Barack Obama's church staged a strong defense of its senior pastor Sunday, comparing criticism of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright to the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Obama's Democratic presidential bid has drawn scrutiny to Wright's outspoken comments on race and U.S. policy, as well as the Afro-centric flavor of Trinity United Church of Christ, 400 W. 95th St. Critics have said Wright is wrongheaded, militant and divisive. The church says Wright's commitment to social justice is a flashpoint for some conservatives.
(AP)
"Nearly three weeks before the 40th commemorative anniversary of the murder of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr.'s character is being assassinated in the public sphere because he has preached a social gospel on behalf of oppressed women, children and men in America and around the globe," the church said in a statement released Sunday.
During a Sunday evening service, Pastor Otis Moss III spoke of "external forces" that want to "box us in and vilify us."
In a Palm Sunday sermon laden with symbolism, Moss seemed to liken a biblical donkey or colt to the oppressed. To undermine it, "You have to assassinate the colt's character," Moss said to shouts of "Preach."
"The domesticated donkey says, 'You need to stop talking that social justice stuff,' and speak only of Jesus," Moss said.
In the church's statement, Moss criticized basing Wright's legacy on a few comments. After 36 years of preaching, "It is an indictment on Dr. Wright's ministerial legacy to present his global ministry within a 15- or 30-second sound bite," Moss said.
The Rev. John J. Thomas, the church president, had a similar view.
"It saddens me to see news stories reporting such a caricature of a congregation that has been such a blessing," Thomas said in the statement. "It's time for us to say 'No' to these attacks and declare that we will not allow anyone to undermine or destroy the ministries of any of our congregations in order to serve their own narrow political or ideological ends."
Other church members said criticism of Wright is unwarranted.
"I could see if this was new, but he's been here 36 years," said a woman from Ashburn who would only give her name as Kim.
Obama "should have the right to attend the church, despite what his pastor feels or whatever," said Eric Crockrell, 26, of Englewood. "It's still a great church."
Moss encouraged worshippers to fast this week, saying he wanted them to be "praying for our senior pastor and praying for our church."