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

[erykah]

Folks are forgetting one thing here. Yes, Oprh left Wright's church, but she is an Obama supporter. What they says to me is that she does not lump the two together But here is what is funny about all of the Wright bashing, America is still a racist country. Wright i a product of American society. American made Wright and now they are mad. Hypocrites.

[dr4Will]

In other words,white folks wouldn't continue to pour money into her coffers if they knew she was part of the black churches that hate whites!! smart move for the greedy oprah!

[DofG]

The first part of the sentence is probably correct. However, the second part, "black churches that hate whites!!", is utterly absurd! Black Americans, more than any other group in this country, have reasons for generally hating "White" America. However, since slavery and Jim Crow, Blacks have shown considerable restraint, with most expressed violence being self-inflicted.
The best, and only thing, White America can do for Black America is to take an experimental moment to step outside of the delusional state of "white privilege", and ignorance about Black reality, and understand racism, and its purpose, as a historic institution. Then, the next "Rev. Wright story" will be more transparent to those who go through life being "asleep at the wheel" of their own knowledge!

http://www.timwise.org

[Izadora]

I definitely agree with 0prah. No No to 0rganized Religion.

[hinnis]

I agree with Oprah's decision to leave that church, also. Too bad Obama's judgment isn't as good.

Oprah 08

[ndolomar]

So, will this constant news coverage of a FORMER -- RETIRED -- NO LONGER PREACHING pastor who chose poor words to tell what essentially is an opinion held by many people across the country do anything to lower our gas prices and bring my friend's brother (and others) back from Iraq? I don't think so -- and the more the media and some bloggers harp on this, I begin to fear we've dumbed down to irreconsilable levels. However, please don't start posting your anger when the media begins playing endless loops of Sen. McCain supporter Rev. Hagee's hate-filled speech, or Sen. Clinton's "misremembered" adventures in Bosnia. None of this "news" is helping with very real situations; it's just giving people excuses to post anti-Obama/pro-Clinton/pro-McCain talking points. When we return to discussing real, non-tabloid issues, please get back to me.

[hinnis]

HERE IS WHY OPRAH LEFT THE CHURCH -- OBAMA"S RELIGION: BLACK LIBERATION THEOLOGY: Learn about the so-called "religion" that Obama has been soaking up for the last 20 years. The Internet is a great source for researching this topic...

+++++++++

From Obama's Church Website:

"The vision statement of Trinity United Church of Christ is based upon the systematized liberation theology that started in 1969 with the publication of Dr. James Cone"s book, Black Power and Black Theology."

http://www.tucc.org/talking_points.htm

James Cone defines the theology as thus:

"Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community ... Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject his love."

Liberation Theology on Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_theology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberation_theology

[LORISNJ]

OPRAH has officially "Jumped the Shark".

[ApolloniaCreed]

Anything to keep this story alive... I guess. NO MORE REV WRIGHT STORIES!!!

[daddydamon]

really, enough...NO ONE CARES

[MinneapolisBob]

The one candidate who is talking about bringing our nation together, ending the war, and using diplomatic talks in dealing with our adversaries; instead of obliterating a nation. Although he supposedly heard the hate speeches and anti-American sentiments from Rev. Wright, he has emerged as a humble, meek, and American loving man. Rev. Wright's talks must have backfired.

According to the article, Oprah left the church because of business purposes. The last time I checked she was 100% in support of Sen. Obama. The same man who heard some of the same sermons she did. He says he is supporting the church because he has seen the great things it has done for the community. The several thousand people who attend that church must be as ant-American and prejudiced as Rev. Wright, if we take everything the media has painted the church to be. Why hasn't the media interviewed some of the members?

By the way, what did Oprah say was the reason why she is supporting Sen. Obama? " I support him because he is brilliant...he is brilliant!" (CA stump speech UCLA).

[TrollsTakeYourMedstoo]

Interesting. She belonged to his church for a quarter of the time Obama did, yet she felt compelled to leave due to many incendiary comments that he made yet Obama NEVER heard him make any of those statements. Hm....I guess that Obama wasn't listening for those twenty years.

[cam]

Yes - makes one wonder why she endorsed Obama. Perhaps she thinks it will be a good thing if the next president knows the full spectrum of American sentiment, even those bits that the president doesn't neccessarily subscribe to.

[steamboat]

GOOD POINT !

[Maya2008]

Hilary and McCain can't go toe to toe with Obama when it comes to issues. so they attack him with words by somone else. Lets talk judgment... Hilary married a man who cheated on her and lied to America.. she knew him better than Obama knew Wright.. What does that say about her judgment? Has she ever denounced Bil's lies to the American people about Monica?

[hinnis]

You can't really believe that your scenario is analogous, can you?

[Maya2008]

Who the hell cares. Rev Wright ISN'T RUNNING!

[PAposter]

How many Catholics here left your church when you discovered that Priests were raping our children? I didn't, and I would guess many you didn't either. When I attend Mass it is not about the messenger or even the message sometimes (the homily), my allegiance is to Christ, not the clergy of my church. I would rally to put a Catholic Priest pedophile to death, just as I would any other pedophile. I continue to attend Mass on Sundays, but good Christians need look to no religion to live their life in a Christ-like manner. I question aspects of all religions, and I allow my children to do the same, because this how we learn to respect and embrace the differences in ourselves and others.

[hinnis]

If they knew their priest as well as Obama knew Rev. Wright, and if they knew that their individual priest was raping children, like Obama knew his "mentor and spiritual adviser" was racist and anti-American, I'm sure they would leave.

[LuoPrincess]

I am Cathlic and what you just said is RIDICULOUS! Your priest is your mentor and spiritual advisor, unless you are one of those Catholics who just 'attends' Sunday mass to ease your conscious. If you are practicing Catholic then you know that your parish preist plays a pivotal role in your spiritual life. You just lost that argument, move on!

[hinnis]

You conveniently left out the second element of my argument, which was "if they knew that their individual priest was raping children." I'm sure this was just an oversight on your part; I would hate to think that you would have done so intentionally, just to make an erroneous and biased argument.

[MyThought]

Good grief - Bill Clinton had him at a White House prayer breakfast - that's not a regular attendance issue. If the White House left him out - then what - riots in the streets or something.

Every occur to anyone that the Clintons did not know what he was preaching?

So, Oprah, isn't rich enough - worried more about her business....hmmmm....

I've turned off Oprah - quite some time ago. She's pure marketing and trying to make money.

[LoloZ]

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!!! END OF ISSUE!!!
Obama has good judgement in political decisions and that is all that matters. If presidential candidates are guilty by association with a former pastor then Hillary Clinton is a pedophile, and McCain is an anti semitic bigot.

[steamboat]

I agree on 'separation'. I agree so much that I want to see the Rev. Wright's, Rev. Jackson's, Rev. Sharpton's, Father Greeley's, etc., etc. pay their fair share of the taxes.

[hinnis]

Please get your facts straight. Regarding Hillary's alleged pastor:

REV. WILLIAM PROCANICK WAS NOT HILLARY"S PASTOR: Plenty of misinformation is spread by the Internet. For example, the Rev. William Procanick of Resurrection Assembly of God in Clinton, N.Y., was convicted of child-molesting. News reports said "former Clinton pastor sentenced." Quickly, erroneous cyberland items said Bill and Hillary Clinton denounced Democratic campaign rival Barack Obama for actions by his former pastor, while their own former pastor was worse. Good grief. The New York preacher had no connection to the Clintons. His church was located in the city of Clinton, New York. This silly online mistake probably will be distributed thousands of times by folks who don't know it's untrue.

So, the pastor was from the CITY OF CLINTON -- he was not Clinton's pastor.

[Maya2008]

"SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!!! END OF ISSUE!!!
Obama has good judgement in political decisions and that is all that matters. If presidential candidates are guilty by association with a former pastor then Hillary Clinton is a pedophile, and McCain is an anti semitic bigot."

OMG! Some commonsense on Huff post! Thank you , thank you! Loloz ROCKS!

[flyguy14222]

So Oprah knew 20 years ago that she was uncomfortable with Wright, but Barry continued to sit and listen to the hate speeches? Barry.....wrong for America!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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]

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.

[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.

[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!

[TootsieII]

AMEN

[CelticMajic]

try JFK and Romney....

[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