It’s the story that won’t go away. Everyday the Barack Obama/Rev. Jeremiah Wright story “grows new legs.” And today is no different.
One lingering and largely unanswered question that looms seems to have finally been answered. Why did Oprah Winfrey leave Trinity United Church of Christ? It’s been widely reported that Oprah was uncomfortable with Rev. Wright’s “hate-filled” message.
Newsweek Magazine reports it’s not that simple.
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.)
The other reason for her leaving should come as no surprise to Oprah fans.
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."
Of course it’s important to point out this is not coming directly from Ms. Winfrey. But if the “sources” are to be believed, political correctness played the biggest role in her leaving Trinity, not Rev. Wright’s preaching.
Information is powerful but only when it’s put into context.
