Why Oprah Left Reverend Jeremiah Wright's Church

Reverend Jeremiah Wright has become a household name due to his association with Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. However, Obama's not the only famous figure to attend Wright's church. Oprah was a member of Trinity church, where Wright preached, from 1984-1986, and she continued to attend off and on through the early 1990s. Then she stopped, and as Newsweek reports in its latest issue, Wright himself was a major reason:

According to two sources, Winfrey was never comfortable with the tone of Wright's more incendiary sermons, which she knew had the power to damage her standing as America's favorite daytime talk-show host. "Oprah is a businesswoman, first and foremost," said one longtime friend, who requested anonymity when discussing Winfrey's personal sentiments. "She's always been aware that her audience is very mainstream, and doing anything to offend them just wouldn't be smart. She's been around black churches all her life, so Reverend Wright's anger-filled message didn't surprise her. But it just wasn't what she was looking for in a church." Oprah's decision to distance herself came as a surprise to Wright, who told Christianity Today in 2002 that when he would "run into her socially ... she would say, 'Here's my pastor!' " (Winfrey declined to comment. A Harpo Productions spokesperson would not confirm her reasons for leaving the church.)

But Winfrey also had spiritual reasons for the parting. In conversations at the time with a former business associate, who also asked for anonymity, Winfrey cited her fatigue with organized religion and a desire to be involved with a more inclusive ministry. In time, she found one: her own. "There is the Church of Oprah now," said her longtime friend, with a laugh. "She has her own following."

Read the full story here.

Read more of HuffPost's coverage of Reverend Wright here.

Comments

[Mygirl]

Has anyone researched the Clinton's religious association. I know they just seem to show up where they can get votes. I am an African American that think this contineuaction of the Rev. Wright story is a dead horse being dragged around to bring down Obama. Why not talk about Rev. Wright's relationship with the Clintons when he prayed for them at their after Monica prayer Breakfast. Didn't they know he made hate speeches.

[TrollsTakeYourMedstoo]

They were not members of his church for twenty years. Having said that, though. I, too, think the Rev. Wright issue should be dropped. I have said since the beginning of this mess that if the words did not come out of the mouths of the candidates than they should be discounted. That person speaking, or misspeaking as it were, including Bill Clinton, are NOT running.

[hinnis]

More misinformation from Obama supporters:
DOUGLAS COE IS NOT HILLARY’S PASTOR: NBC News Exclusive -- Posted on Thursday, April 03, 2008
For more than 50 years, the National Prayer Breakfast has been a Washington institution. Every president has attended the breakfast since Eisenhower, elbow-to-elbow with Democrats and Republicans alike.
Besides the presidents and first ladies--Bill and Hillary Clinton attended in 1997--the one constant presence at the National Prayer Breakfast has been Douglas Coe. Although he’s not an ordained minister, the 79-year-old Coe is the most important religious leader you've never seen or heard.
But Doug Coe is well known to scores of senators in both parties--and many faiths--including Sam Brownback, Mike Enzi, Mark Pryor and Bill Nelson. They go to small weekly Senate prayer groups that Coe attends. Participants tell NBC News that so have senators John McCain, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, which those campaigns confirm. Asked about Coe’s influence on Hillary Clinton, people close to her told NBC News that she does not consider him one of her leading spiritual advisors. They added that Senator Clinton has never contributed to Coe’s group, is not a member of The Fellowship and has never heard the sermons obtained by NBC News. And, they said, Doug Coe is not Hillary Clinton’s minister.

[steamboat]

And lets also mention that Wright received $8.8 MILLION dollars in FEDERAL grants from the same nation he hates, from both 'republican' and 'democratic' administra­tions....C­ould it be Oprah (who is a smart business lady) got tired of seeing Lexus's and Cadillac's poppin-up in his driveway after he was getting these grants?

(see todays Chicago Sun-Times {5/5/08}, column by Laura Washington)

www.suntimes.com then on home page scroll columnists and then hit Laura Washington when you see her name. Thank you.

[NoSillyName]

HRC has been a member of the very conservative Christian "bible study" group, called "The Family" since '93. Their aim is to acheive power thru christianity.

She once was a Methodist Republican.

Bill? Dunno.

[alwayslearning]

It's great to hear that someone in that church had good sense!! Senator Obama shows poor judgment and lack of concern for his children. He and Michelle brought their children and let them listen to this awful hate and anti-American sentiments. How could they do that? Thank you, Oprah, for coming forward and letting us know why you left. Senator Obama does not have the good judgment needed to be the president of this country.

[metalpipe]

Prove that you are truly 'alwayslearning', and do your research on the HRC and McSinister. Their religious backrounds, endorsements and practices make Obama's look tame by comparison. It has become well known that most black preachers have a certain degree of race based anger in their sermons, so it is no big deal. They are still looking for direction and healing. Hillary's church is some clandestine, black ops organization that sponsers who knows what sort of mischeif, and McDoogle likes guys who allege that gay parades can bring on hurricanes. I think they are all nut cases, and completely unimportant in the big picture.

[metalpipe]

And did anyone consider the possibility that Obama's presence in the Wright congregation did more good than harm, especially considering his positive energy. He must have balanced the good reverend's somewhat caustic message. His judgement has been stellar over the past 18 months, and well beyond that with only a few minor exceptions. The other two candidates are major flippers and floppers, and are presently both trying to spread fear and half truths in an effort to twart Obama's huge success story. Hillary is a real piece of work trying to preach free trade issues, and McShiite/S­unni/whate­ver is losing his mind and can't even lie well anymore.

[jillbean31]

Can anyone tell me why it is OK to be judging our president solely on his Church and comments from his pastor? When have we ever brought another presidential candidate's faith under this much scrutiny? This is getting seriously ridiculous!

[CelticMajic]

try JFK and Romney....

[TootsieII]

AMEN

[redrobin]

And while the 'WRIGHT ISSUE' continues to dominate conversations, the mccain/clinton ticket has let us all know THIS could be in our future. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gwqEneBKUs&NR=1

[redrobin]

what absolutely dribble...­WHO CARES, especially when the mccain/clinton ticket is mulling this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gwqh?v=3gwqEneBKUs&NR=1

[bar1ed]

Obama, while in Chicago, stayed for votes, to live in the white house, he left for votes. Oprah left for the money. whats the lesson to be learned here? did they follow their souls, their hearts, or their brains? was it a mistake to put their trust in others, rather than in their inner self? change always comes from the inside. the sense of right and wrong. man can not write laws to cure the Ill's of the world. they both left the Rev. for different reasons. i wonder how they all feel inside?

[metalpipe]

Better, I'd imagine. Organized religion leads us away from our souls, not too them. Any way we can depart from a 'church/group dynamic' and enter 'ourselves' is a step towards enlightenment. I think both Oprah and Obama did that, and I think it is a positive. They are both spiritually advanced beyond the abilities of the average mentor. I fell less comfortabe when I think of a religious zealot whispering in the ear of my choosen leader. Can you say Rasputin?

[loki]

If Wright would not have become a public problem though, She would have never left. This is purely motivated by status and money. By being associated with him, she would risk losing it. Basically, her leaving now is just a farce.

[RobertaInCT]

Oprah left the church over ten years ago, after attending for about two years.....­.........

[Meah]

Maybe people who go to church should really listen to what their priests or ministers said. It they did REALLY listen, more people would leave their churches. I think there are many more reasons for going to church besides the ministers words. It has a lot to do with community, family, etc. Enough with this Rev. Wright crap!

[granamica]

So true! I listened and they were talking about a "virgin birth" and a seven day scenario for making the world. Some crazy rantings going on in there.

[cmrinc]

It looks like she had better judgement then somebody else we all know.

[hinnis]

Yeah, scary, isn't it . . .

[HatingTheGame]

Meaning cut and run?

[ann1]

Until I see Oprah Winfrey's name under the title of the article I'm not gonna pay it much attention. I've had it with third party reporting.

[UnbiasView]

Bottom line is she left, smart move.

[UnbiasView]

So basically this article states that Oprah's decision making and common sense is at a higher level than the front runner to be President . . . . that's comforting.

[PennP]

Or her cowardice. She did it for business reasons, after all. Money money money. And the Church of Oprah? Ye gods and little fishes....

[dylansstp]

Unbiased is another very weak minded person who will neglect reality to fit her very biased view.
"There is a reason Oprah is so successful and a lot of it is common sense." Ther is also a reason Obama is so succesful in this crucial time for our country, because he is honest and uses common sense to say no to political pandering gimmics like gas tax holidays.

[NoahVail]

From Bill Moyers:

"Jon Stewart recently played a tape from the Nixon White House in which Billy Graham talks in the oval office about how he has friends who are Jewish, but he knows in his heart that they are undermining America. This is crazy; this is wrong - white preachers are given leeway in politics that others aren’t."

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/05/04/8707/

[hinnis]

So, does this justify Obama's 20 year relationship with Rev. Wright? What's your point?

[Meah]

Yes. Why do we have to listen to the drivel of people like that looney tunes Pat Robertson, about assassinating the president of Venezuela, etc, and who has had his law school fundamentalists infiltrate our government and flush it down the toilet. Give me a break. These ministers on the right are positively hateful. That Oprah is a good businesswoman. does not mean that Obama did anything wrong. He is the kind of guy who can hear a lot of attitudes from different people, accept them for who they are, and still have his own thoughts on things. His mother brought him up that way.

[rh654]

While I am a Obama supporter, yeah - I have some questions about Wright and Obama. One of things I think about Obama is that he is not the same old rhetoric - but - either he was ok enough with what Wright said for 20 years to stay in the church and he changed his tone when Wright's messages conflicted with Obama's ability to become President.

Or, Obama was not truthful about his church attendance and he never attended church much therefore did not really know what Wright was saying.

Either way something is not adding up here.

[UnbiasView]

Obama knew what Wright was and is. There is a reason that he was initally going to be a big part of the campaign and Obama asked him to step into the background . . . which didn't work too well.

[Jey]

I don't give a rat's 'A' about Wright, Hagee or Clinton's 'Washington Prayer Group'. I care about the economy, the environment, the War. Who cares what church he sat in for 20 years. I've sat in a Catholic Church for more than 40 years. And for the last 20 I knew what was going on behind the altar. But yet I did not leave. Why? Because my relationship with Jesus Christ is greater than the relationship I had with my priest. So Rev. Wright is not an issue. By the way one of the priests who was charged with molestation baptized two of my kids and married me and my wife. Funny how no one ever questions Hillary or McCain about the issue of religion or race.

If America doesn't wake up this time around...I give up on We the People.

God please help us.

Obama 08

[UnbiasView]

The Rev. Wright issue goes straight to character just like the Bill Ayers thing, he seems to not understand how to say no to shady things.

[strangelet]

It's not in the politics section, it's in the "media" section.

[antaeus]

This really gives the lie to Obama's Captain Renault imitation: I'm shocked--s­hocked!--t­o find out what my pastor has been saying!

Sorry, but that one looks a real out and out lie.

[UnbiasView]

It was a lie but how what else did you want him to say? He couldn't say yeah I knew he was saying this, I listened for 22 years but I don't agree with it. Me giving tens of thousands in $$$ doesn't mean I agree with him . . . LOL.

[NoahVail]

What about George W. Bush? He gave the Presidential Medal of Freedom to a Farrakhan supporter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali

Maybe he should distance himself from this black hate speech, too.

[UnbiasView]

Ali was an athlete, he wasn't running for President.

[hinnis]

All of these arguments coming from Obama supporters which try to deflect criticism of Obama's relationship with Rev. Wright by claiming that other Presidents or candidates have also had dubious relationships miss the point. It's kind of like defending a murderer, by saying that someone else was a murderer, too.

[steamboat]

Muhammad Ali is NOT a Farrakhan supporter. He broke away from Farrakhan's group and supports Wallace Muhammad instead.