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Obama's troublesome priests

William Crawley | 09:13 UK time, Sunday, 1 June 2008

Barack Obama from Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ, where controversial sermons by his former pastor Jeremiah Wright have caused emormous problems for his campaign. Obama's resignation comes less than a week after Fr Michael Pfleger, a white Catholic priest with an impressive social action record, preached from the pulpit of the same church.

Addressing Hillary Clinton's bid for the Democratic nomination, Fr Pfleger said: " "When Hillary was crying, and people said that was put on, I really don't believe it was put on. I really believe that she just always thought: 'This is mine! I'm Bill's wife, I'm white and this is mine! I just gotta get up and step into the plate.' And then out of nowhere came, 'Hey, I'm Barack Obama,' and she said: 'Oh, damn. Where did you come from? I'm white! I'm entitled! There's a black man stealing my show!'

Obama distanced himself from Fr Pfleger, describing the comments as "divisive". The priest, whose words have since been criticised by Catholic leaders, was speaking on the topic of white entitlement. Watch part of his sermon below.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.


    My impression from commentators in USA that Obama had gathered support from many white collar, middle class, professional young people many of whom are white whereas Clinton had trawled successfully among blue collar, working class and hispanics. Father Pleger is helping to light the torch of racial hatred. No doubt USA are still sensitive about race, but many white people are also in poverty and doing menial jobs. Most Americans salute the flag and are proud of their security forces irrespective of race or creed. There is an opinion among some republicans that Obama is the best thing they have because of some of his liberal and less patriotic remarks and also the lack of readiness of modern USA for a black president. This gives McCain who speaks like the voice of America in presidentail style a better chance than against Clinton. However, Father Pleger needs to explain more to whom the "white wealth" is to be given and how to address the problem that is was the black chief's of tribes who sold slaves to the white traders. How will these "homelands" compensate the families for this betrayal.

  • Comment number 2.

    Newly discovered affiliation with another anti white racist, misogynist, and demagogue is going to be the least of Obama's problems. He is affiliated with even worse. Affiliation with a member of the PLO when it was labeled an terrorist organization by the US government, affiliation with an unrepentent member of the American terrorist organization the Weather Underground who was responsible for bombing the Capitol building, police stations, and other government buildings to "protest" the war in Vietnam, and unwillingness to dissassociate himself from the blatantly anti-semitic Louis Farrikan. Of course he is willing to talk to America's worst enemies, he has spent a lifetime associating himself with people like Ahmadinejad, Bin Laden, and Castro. By the time Fox news and the like get done with him, he'll look like a one man sleeper cell. Once again the Democratic Party has shot itself in the foot by being taken over by its extreme left wing. Watch the polls as more revelations about Obama come out and are blasted all over the US media.

  • Comment number 3.

    Racism is not the issue of this US elections; it is sexism.

  • Comment number 4.

    Fr Pleger needs to explain why he is supporting the most pro-abortion candidate in American history.

  • Comment number 5.

    Smasher:

    Can't a priest have a mind of his mind? Or it might just be that he thinks other issues are more important, like, for example, the racism still prevalent in the country, the gun laws, the alcohol and tobacco ads aimed at children, or the million or so Iraqis killed by the US since 2003.

    Here is a priest who tries to act like a true Christian, even allowing pro-abortion celebrities to speak at Mass, and he is lambasted by other so-called Christians for letting the side down. Poor man! Doesn't he know that most Christians don't follow Jesus. They follow their leaders. It is called the fuhrer principle. And it is at work everywhere.

  • Comment number 6.

    Brian,

    You appear to have made a statement upon which christian and non-christian can all agree.

    True christians follow Jesus.

    I couldn't have put it better myself.


  • Comment number 7.

    Peter:

    Yes, but the meaning of the statement will vary from one person to the next. I am referring to following his ethical principles; you are probably referring to a mystical union. There is quite a difference.

  • Comment number 8.


    Hi Brian

    Again I agree.

    What we think of Jesus will make all the difference.

    Specifically on the issue of public figures, politics and religion; this is often an explosive mix. Sometimes its difficult to determine who is using whom.

    I can't for example imagine that the apostle Paul would have taken a position on the Senate in Rome.

    Sooner or later someone is going to be compromised. Freedom of speech is one thing, but the idea of a 'christian nation' is, in my view, pretty dubious. Too many possible conflicts.


  • Comment number 9.


    interesting

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