As a Catholic, I’m Rather Embarrassed About the Latest Wright/Obama Flare Up
May 30th, 2008 at 12:22pm Mark Noonan
As I’m sure everyone is aware:
…After being introduced by Obama’s church’s new pastor — Rev. Otis Moss — Rev. Pfleger talks about the importance of taking on “white entitlement and supremacy wherever it raises its head.”
“Rev. Moss, when Hillary was crying, and people said that was put on, I really don’t believe it was put on,” Pfleger says from the pulpit. “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!’
Pfleger then mocks her crying, much to delight of the crowd, many of whom stand up and applaud.
“She wasn’t the only one crying, there was a whole lot of white people crying!” Pfleger says to laughter.
Here’s the description of St Sabina:
Faith Community of Saint Sabina
St. Sabina is a Word-based, Bible teaching African-American Catholic Church that believes in the power of praise and worship.
We are a spiritual hospital where all are welcome and invited to “taste and see the goodness of the Lord.”Our purpose is to nurture and develop spiritually mature Christians who are not confined by the walls of the sanctuary, but can penetrate the world in order to present God’s way of living as a divine option.
A friend of mine attended Mass - as it were - at a “faith community” here in Las Vegas, and her first question upon entering was “where’s Jesus?”…no crucifix in evidence, which is akin to not having home plate at a ball park. In contrast, my parish mission statement has much to say about being Catholic, Our Lord and other things more traditionally associated with, you know, church (I had placed the mission statement of my parish on this thread - but I am worried that someone will use it to find out which church I attend, and I don’t want my fellow parishoners bothered on my account; sad that I had to be concerned that much with safety).
While Rev. Pfleger has apologised, I find it shocking that a priest of the Church could make so cruel, hateful and grossly inaccurate a statement. What Pfleger said wasn’t even remotely Christian - and I urge his Bishop, Francis Cardinal George, to take firm action to ensure that such statements are never made again.
UPDATE: Monsignor Jim Lisante volunteers to replace Wright as Obama’s pastor…if Obama refuses, perhaps Lisante can take over day to day operations at St. Sabina?
Entry Filed under: Campaign 2008, Democrats, Religion
27 Comments
1. Dennis | May 30th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Her first question upon entering was “where’s Jesus?”
Mark, this is what people wonder about your own religion after reading your broadsides, insults and invective against your political opponents, most particularly against liberals - many of whom have quite a soft spot for the teacher from Nazareth.
As for the crucifix - that isn’t Jesus. That’s just a material object. The spirit of Jesus Christ is what is manifest in service to others, in kindness, forbearance and in loving one’s enemies. In forgiving not seven times, but seventy times seven. In realizing that your neighbor is the Samaritan you thought you despised.
Again - not to depart from the intended topic of the thread - but by making such observations of others, yet failing the simple cognizance of your own exposure by your self-righteous and often arrogant stances you have made yourself an object of ridicule. Not for your political opinions, which many otherwise fairly reasonable people also hold - but by your constant, spectacular and shameless slanders, dishonesties and inconsistencies.
You say “What Pfleger said wasn’t even remotely Christian ,” without realizing that much of what you say here isn’t remotely Chrisitan either. You may plead that you are not a priest of the Catholic Church, but as the apostle Paul teaches every Christian: “You are a letter from Christ - written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts.” II Corinthians 3:3.
2. hermie | May 30th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Actually it wasn’t an apology. It was another one of those ‘I’m sorry if you were offended…’ statements. He wasn’t saying he was wrong, he was just sorry he was caught.
3. OhioOrrin | May 30th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
perhaps the rev pfleger shoulda worn “white face” as he mocked hillary.
betcha ear bama still wouldn’t have left the church…nor his wife, michelle.
4. Dennis | May 30th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
perhaps the rev pfleger shoulda worn “white face”
Not necessary - Pfleger is a white man.
5. Tractatus | May 30th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Let’s see…the Catholic Scandal That Dare Not Be Mentioned…not embarrassing. A priest giving a sermon Noonan doesn’t like…embarrassing. Interesting value system you’ve got there, Noonan.
As for St. Sabina…its mission statement says “all are welcomed and invited to taste and see the goodness of the Lord” and that its purpose is “to nurture and develop spiritually mature Christians who are not confined by the walls of the sanctuary, but can penetrate the world in order to present God’s way of living as a divine option.”
And that is insufficiently Christian to you…how, exactly?
6. KMorrison | May 30th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
One of the things that is upsetting about the comments coming out of that church is that there is a cruelty to the remarks. Over all the years of criticisms and insults directed at the Clintons, implying that they’re white supremists is one I’ve never heard before; and mocking her is just nasty behavior made more unfotunate by his position in the church.
7. OhioOrrin | May 30th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
here’s OO’s rules 4 proper insulting in a pc age:
1) White men may ONLY insult other white men.
2) White women may insult BOTH white genders.
3) Asians may insult ALL whites n asians.
4) Blacks may insult ALL whites, asians, and blacks - except black mothers.
4A) Black mothers may insult ALL whites, asians, n blacks.
5) Hispanics may insult everyone!
politicos please download 4 ur candidate de jour.
8. Smokey | May 30th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
As a Catholic, YOU embarrass me Noonan
9. MMoser | May 30th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Dennis, this is a forum for political opinion. A church, I would think, is a forum for worshiping God not inciting hate. The cross symbolizes Christ’s sacrifice for us; hence, one would not be out of line to expect to see such displays of symbolic reference in places of Christian worship.
Tractatas, is it your contention that since other priests have commit heinous acts in the past that is inappropriate to point out priests who engaged in inappropriate behavior now or in the future? Furthermore, I don’t think the posting of the mission statement was intended to imply a problem with the mission statement, but rather, a problem with Pfleger behavior as compared to the mission statement. By the way, that was not a sermon it was a political rant and a blatant case pandering, by Pfleger, to his audience.
Let’s be clear, this election is about race. At least it is for individuals in the community whom share Jeremiah Wright’s world view. Obama has enjoyed the support of over ninety-percent of the black vote in this race thus far. I find it hard to believe that such a lop-sided margin has been based solely on carful and conscientious consideration of the issues. Rather, this, in my opinion, provides overwhelming evidence that bigotry is alive and well on both sides of the racial divide.
10. Macker | May 30th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Here’s Cardinal Francis George’s statement on Rev. Pfleger, from the Chicago Sun-Times:
11. RALPH | May 30th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
THE ROMAN POPE HAS BEEN EXPOSED AS AN AGENT OF PIAPS!!!!!!
12. Cavalor Epthith, Esquire, D.S.V.J. | May 30th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Mr Noonan I am terribly disturbed by something I have just watched. I have to ask you a very serious question is there any such thing as a GOP priest or a Democratic Party priest?
13. Dennis | May 30th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Moser, indeed this is a forum for political opinion. Noonan, however, wears his religion on his sleeve and regularly uses this blog as a forum for his own theological and moral fulminations. He has mingled the political and religious here too many times to count, and by doing so has made his own religious bona fides a valid issue in this forum.
14. Tractatus | May 30th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Tractatas, is it your contention that since other priests have commit heinous acts in the past that is inappropriate to point out priests who engaged in inappropriate behavior now or in the future?
No, it is my contention that Mark Noonan would like to ignore Catholic scandals that that reflect poorly upon his religion (going so far as to disallow mention of them) while at the same time promoting scandals he thinks he can use against non-conservative politicians.
He claims to feel “embarrassment” and “shock” about this priest, but his reaction to the other scandal is not shame or embarrassment but instead an effort to pretend it doesn’t exist, even going so far as to try to stamp out the mere mention of it. That seems like a fairly odd value system from one who claims to be such a strict moralist, especially considering that the Scandal That Must Not Be Mentioned (and the ensuing coverup, which Noonan’s actions show he is in favor of) is exponentially worse than this episode that has him up in arms.
15. Cavalor Epthith, Esquire, D.S.V.J. | May 30th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
14. Tractatus | May 30th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
I am amazed then that Mr Noonan did not make mention of this pleasant little invocation at last night’s Republican Party dinner in New York.
No measure of censorship can erase the truth.
16. Street Riot | May 30th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
The Trinity United Church of Christ should have its tax exempt status suspended by the IRS until completion of an investigation into possible violation U.S tax code. That was nothing more than a political statement from a church pulpit.
I must say in all my years, I have never heard a Catholic priest talk like that.
17. Moderate Voter | May 30th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Jim Lisante is my uncle… he is leaving his parish in West Hempstead, NY after 10 years of service there. His father, Nick (my grandfather) was a strong Bushie and I am confident that he would still be so today, God rest his soul. Msgr. Jim has soured on Bush but is enthusiastic to vote for McCain.
Just an observation… I love Uncle Jim to death and he is a great guy. He and I couldn’t disagree more on politics but we always have spirited and respectful discussions.
18. Mark Noonan | May 30th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Dennis,
The lack of a crucifix in that Vegas church indicates a lack of concentration on the most important thing about Church…as for Pfleger’s “faith community”, there doesn’t seem to be much on eternal salvation, but a great deal on leftwing politics.
Rev. Pfleger has been properly called to account - a priest, especially, must demonstrate in public that love which Christ commanded us to show…his statements about Hillary (and, by implication, about all white Americans) were hateful in the extreme and not even in keeping with his own parish mission statement, let alone the more traditional mission statement of my parish.
19. Mark Noonan | May 30th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Moderate Voter,
I’ve linked to it in the main section of the comment - it wasn’t an attack, just a strong prayer that Obama will set things right…with a half-joke about Listante being willing to take over Obama’s spiritual direction. The whole point of the MSM bringing up Lisante is to try and counterbalance Pfleger - just as they bring up Hagee to counterbalance Wright.
It won’t wash - Obama has been close to both Pfleger and Wright for 20 years, and he can’t get away from that.
20. Mark Noonan | May 30th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Smokey,
In what way? Where in any of my statements is anything in opposition to Catholic teaching?
21. Dennis | May 30th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Once again, “the lack of a crucifix.” The simulacrum rather than the genuine article.
There is no lack of outward symbols: cucifixes for Christianity, American flag lapel pins for patriotism, creeds, oaths and rhetoric for fealty to spiritual values. It is the genuine article that is lacking, apparently in Pfleger’s church as well as on this blog.
22. Moderate Voter | May 30th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Mark,
I wasn’t trying to disagree with your post. I was just trying to point out that real patriots exist on both sides. I rolled up to my grandfather’s house (also in West Hempstead) with a Kerry sticker in 04, and both he and Jim threatened to replace it with a Bush/Cheney sticker, and we all had a good laugh.
My grandfather fought in WW2, and was shot in Japan, nearly fatally. Jim L. did around 40 9/11 funerals on Long Island and saw red whenever the attacks were mentioned. Understandably, as far as I’m concerned. I respect Jim’s devotion to McCain, and he respects that I am working hard to elect Obama. That’s unity, and it goes beyond both McCain and Obama… it goes to the fact that people we love often disagree with what we say, and that’s okay. That’s all I was trying to say.
23. Smokey | May 30th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I am no where near as eloquent as Dennis in my prose. I shall cut to the chase.
You are a hypocrite, Sir. Most likely in deed, and surely in word.
One day you will reap what you sow.
24. Jeremiah | May 30th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Obama’s associations do not mean anything to Liberals…because Liberals do not believe anything unless they see it…they have to have that “magic touch” Hahaha.
Obama’s true inner self will never come out, he wears a mask of love, charity, and good will to all over that poisonous mind that he has. He’s going to hide it like a snake in high grass poised to strike at his earliest available opportunity.
As for Mr. Pfleger….Well, in March he said this, “Jeremiah Wright is a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
??? ……. Not the Jesus I know!
You liberals need to find you a different forum to attend.
25. Mark Noonan | May 31st, 2008 at 3:13 am
Smokey,
So, you got nothing but really, really want to insult me.
Ok - please yourself…but carrying around unreasoning hatred will eventually destroy you.
26. Mark Noonan | May 31st, 2008 at 3:14 am
Moderate Voter,
And I wasn’t trying to disagree with you…if anything, I was speaking up for your uncle.
27. otis francis&hellip | June 30th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
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