Amid the controversy over Wright, they say it's time
to return to the real issues of the campaign: The war
in Iraq, rising joblessness and the mortgage
crisis
By Margaret Ramirez | Tribune reporter
10:07 PM CDT, May 2, 2008
Concerned about possible harm Rev. Jeremiah A.
Wright Jr. did to Sen. Barack Obama's presidential
campaign, 30 respected local African-American
pastors came together Friday to support the Illinois
senator.
The pastors, who represent the Pentecostal, Baptist
and Episcopal faiths, gathered at historic Quinn
Chapel A.M.E. Church on the South Side and said it
was time to get back to the real issues of the
campaign.
Rev. Leon Finney Jr., pastor of Metropolitan Apostolic
Community Church, said Wright and his sermons had
been "politicized" to divert attention from the nation's
problems, including the Iraq war, rising
unemployment and the mortgage crisis. Finney did
not criticize Wright, but said he hoped to shift people's
attention to more pressing matters.
"We're not here to comment on the sermons of Rev.
Wright," he said. "As a matter of fact, we want to make
sure that we help to turn the interest and focus not on
Rev. Wright or what he said, but on the real issues.
American people are hurting. We're in a crisis at this
particular point.
"Sen. Barack Obama best represents our hopes and
aspirations."
In comments to the National Press Club on Monday,
Wright equated criticism of him with an attack on the
black church and made other remarks that led Obama
to denounce him the next day.
Obama is a longtime member of Trinity United Church
of Christ, where Wright is retiring as pastor this
month.
Bishop Arthur Brazier, pastor of the Apostolic Church
of God, said the pastors felt they needed to let the
public know the black church supports Obama.
