I’ve tried so hard to remain open-minded about Obama’s church, especially since it’s a member congregation of the UCC, the denomination that I am proud to belong to. I understood some of Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s statements and felt they were taken out of context to suit a political agenda, but the more that I learn about Trinity United Church of Christ, the more convinced I become that this congregation isn’t nearly as concerned with racial equality as they would like to pretend. When you put people like Rev. Michael Pfleger in the pulpit to say the things he said last Sunday, you are doing nothing more than fanning the flames of racism and hatred in an already volatile environment.
During his sermon (part of the UCC’s Sacred Conversation on Race), Rev. Pfleger suggested that white Americans should give up their 401ks as retribution for the treatment of blacks. He also suggested that Sen. Hillary Clinton felt entitled to the presidency because she is white.
My initial thoughts: This is not Christianity. This doesn’t heal deep-seated wounds suffered for far too long by minorities in this country. This isn’t love. Maybe there’s a reasonable explanation for this man’s message, so I’ll try not to jump to conclusions too quickly, but watch the video below and judge for yourself.
9 Comments
I understand your sentiments as I am often embarrassed by the denomination to which I belong (to the point that I won’t tell you what it is
). I, too, was shocked by Rev. Pfleger’s theatrics, until I realized they were just that–trying to be provocative and hold the attention of a crowd for an extended time–he resorted to theatrics.
At the core of his statements I think there is some truth: I agree that Mrs. Clinton possesses a sense of entitlement to her party’s nomination for President; feeling that she has “earned it” and “deserves it”, but not because of her race, but as a result of a lifetime of service and hard work.
It’s also obvious that there is a drastic and growing divide in our nation between the “haves” and “have-nots” and that divide is often along racial lines. It is good that Rev. Pfleger address that issue, but the way he went about it is more likely to worsen the situation rather than help in resolving it.
JimT
Why must we continue to be bombarded with all of these negative foks being in the pulpits while they are spreading hate messages.
The folks who were there laughing and clapping….are they suppose to be Christians??
It seems to me that racial tension is a thing being taught in our churches more so than the homes.
Maybe we need to take a closer look at things in the “church family”.
Thanks Rev. Pfleger for making it clear that everyone not of “Native” American decent needs to give up the land and money that they have stolen from us and get OUT of the United States….or more likely the Divided States of America. Oh, and that includes you, Rev. Pfleger, you who have enjoyed a free meal for the last 20 or so years and work for a company, and lets not think that the Catholic Church with it own bank and its on real estate brokage firm and so on and so on is not a money making corporation, that has made billions off exploiting slavery of it own type, why don’t you give the us Native Americans all the land that your loving church has in the US? HMMMMMMMM, oh wait…that would mean you practice what you PREACH!!!
Anderson Cooper asked, “(Rev. Pfleger)isn’t Obama’s pastor so does this (Pleger’s message) matter?” I say, Yes, it certainly does matter and this is why: Obama has managed to not really let the public know who he in any way that would matter as far as running the president’s office. He can create cheerleaders en masse–he has shown us the power of his “charisma” but that’s not what our country needs right now. So we have to base our opinions on who he is by learning of the people he is connected/associated with. “Tell me who you associate with and I’ll tell you who you are.” Those preachers and churches are priming their people for something that doesn’t smell too good for the country. And Farrakhan, whom they have invited to speak at least once, is not far behind. They fan the fire of hatred, of racism, and show no intention of moving toward anything positive. So, I’m believing this is who Obama is. It’s much too much of a risk for our country to take Obama in. We’re scared of Bush’s every move now. Obama scares us even more!
I am white and a retired professor of computer science.
While I have always objected to political comments from the pulpit (believing that our values should lead us to good
political positions without pulpit posturing), the pastor
said it perfectly! It IS an entitlement mentality. “Boo-hoo!
I so wanted to be Commander-in-Chief.”
All this ridiculing of Senator Hillary Clinton is not going to help Obama. It is divisive, mean and totally unnecessary.
Obama needs to reign his minions in otherwise he will alienate everyone Dems and Repubs.
It has been become very racist, black against white and talk about entitlement???
Isn’t that what Obama and his wife Michelle is all about? Now she is proud of America, because she is in the limelight??? just Now??? Give me a break!
She has had more help going to college and get her degrees than I did for my kids. We and they are still paying college loans.
Both Michelle and Obama are entitelment king and queen!
I am an Obama supporter and intend to vote for him, so this is not a reaction to him or his campaign.
This is a reaction to church leaders taking it on themselves to weigh in in the political arena. My husband and I manage a not for profit, 501-c-3 tax exempt organization. Our organization is, by law, not allowed to endorse any particular candidate or to fundraise for any political campaign or candidate. We would lose our tax exempt status if we decided to stand up before a concert and declare that we support a candidate. Am I wrong, but don’t churches come under that same strict law?
I believe strongly in freedom of speech, but I also believe if any organization that enjoys the tax exempt status should be called on to comply with this law, or give up that tax excempt status and pay taxes.
I also believe that religious leaders should respect the members of their congregations and respect their rights to make their own choices.
If a religious leader wants to support a candidate, he or she should do it on his or her own time and not take advantage of the pulpit to be involved in politics.
First of all, that was painful to watch for a number of reasons. I believe, initially, that it is hard to be in a church, be an active participant, and still be analytical while participating. It’s not impossible, but it’s difficult. And when second thoughts crowd in retrospectively, they’re ignored out of guilt, because the act is already done, or they’re argued away because “everybody else did it, so nothing was wrong with what I did.” Group think. Such a terrible thing.
That said: Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.
How can Obama align himself with a church that has such crude soundbites? And he’s been a member for 20 years? That says a lot about him, the messages he’s been inundating himself with, the wisdom he’s been adhering to. Not wise at all.
@jimthomp87: I agree with you, somewhat. I’m a black woman, and I am ultra aware of the socio-economic divide, how it is along racial lines. To me, it’s obvious that most blacks have fewer economic and social benefits than many of their white counterparts… but then there are many blacks who have just as many, if not more. And I won’t touch the subject of “white entitlement”… much more comfortable with bitching about how blacks use it as an excuse to do nothing with their lives.
This made me embarrassed for black churches in general. They get such a bad rap… and apparently, justified. At least sometimes.
I think the bigger problem of entitlement has not to do with the color of our skin as much as our society. It seems today that people (kids in particular) are being told over and over again that they are entitled to special treatment or benefits just because they are them. Forget hard work or suffering for anything. Just expect it to come waltzing up to you and drop in your lap. At least that’s what I’ve been experiencing.
I keep wondering myself why Obama would align himself with a church like this. It has to say something about his character. I’m just trying to decide what it is. Loved the comments from everyone above. It’s nice to know the world isn’t FULL of raving lunatics like this church seems to breed.