Post by Champs Elysees on May 2, 2008 8:12:55 GMT -5
Wright's Honorary Degree Withdrawn by Northwestern
By Julianna Goldman
May 1 (Bloomberg) -- Northwestern University withdrew its offer to give the Reverend Jeremiah Wright an honorary degree at this year's commencement because of the controversy over past sermons by the former pastor to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
The honor was withdrawn in March after recorded excerpts of Wright sermons, denouncing the U.S. government and suggesting its policies were to blame for the Sept. 11 attacks, began circulating on the Internet and were broadcast on television.
In a statement released today, Northwestern spokesman Alan Cubbage said the university in the Chicago suburb of Evanston was concerned that the furor over Wright would disrupt the June commencement ceremonies.
``In light of the controversy around Dr. Wright and to ensure the celebratory character of commencement not be affected, the university has withdrawn its invitation to Dr. Wright,'' Cubbage said.
The videos of Wright's sermons have been used by the Republican Party in North Carolina against Democratic candidates. In March, Obama condemned Wright's statements as ``profoundly distorted,'' though he said he wouldn't ``disown'' the man who had been his pastor for 20 years.
Wright reignited the controversy with an address April 28 at the National Press Club in Washington in which he said he still believes the government is capable of spreading AIDS in the black community and that the Sept. 11 attacks were a reaction to U.S. policies.
The next day, Obama broke with Wright and said such statements ``offend me, they rightly offend all Americans and they should be denounced and that's what I'm doing very clearly and unequivocally today.''
The furor over Wright flared up as Obama is competing against rival Hillary Clinton, a senator from New York, in the Democratic presidential primaries May 6 in Indiana and North Carolina.
Cubbage's statement said Wright's invitation wasn't rescinded because of his views. Rather, Northwestern President Henry Bienen didn't want to compromise the celebration, it said.
``Commencement at Northwestern is a time of celebration of the accomplishments of Northwestern's graduating students and their families,'' Cubbage said.
Wright, 66, is retiring as pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. The church has ``no comment at this time,'' said the Reverend Joan Harrell, minister of communications.
By Julianna Goldman
May 1 (Bloomberg) -- Northwestern University withdrew its offer to give the Reverend Jeremiah Wright an honorary degree at this year's commencement because of the controversy over past sermons by the former pastor to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
The honor was withdrawn in March after recorded excerpts of Wright sermons, denouncing the U.S. government and suggesting its policies were to blame for the Sept. 11 attacks, began circulating on the Internet and were broadcast on television.
In a statement released today, Northwestern spokesman Alan Cubbage said the university in the Chicago suburb of Evanston was concerned that the furor over Wright would disrupt the June commencement ceremonies.
``In light of the controversy around Dr. Wright and to ensure the celebratory character of commencement not be affected, the university has withdrawn its invitation to Dr. Wright,'' Cubbage said.
The videos of Wright's sermons have been used by the Republican Party in North Carolina against Democratic candidates. In March, Obama condemned Wright's statements as ``profoundly distorted,'' though he said he wouldn't ``disown'' the man who had been his pastor for 20 years.
Wright reignited the controversy with an address April 28 at the National Press Club in Washington in which he said he still believes the government is capable of spreading AIDS in the black community and that the Sept. 11 attacks were a reaction to U.S. policies.
The next day, Obama broke with Wright and said such statements ``offend me, they rightly offend all Americans and they should be denounced and that's what I'm doing very clearly and unequivocally today.''
The furor over Wright flared up as Obama is competing against rival Hillary Clinton, a senator from New York, in the Democratic presidential primaries May 6 in Indiana and North Carolina.
Cubbage's statement said Wright's invitation wasn't rescinded because of his views. Rather, Northwestern President Henry Bienen didn't want to compromise the celebration, it said.
``Commencement at Northwestern is a time of celebration of the accomplishments of Northwestern's graduating students and their families,'' Cubbage said.
Wright, 66, is retiring as pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. The church has ``no comment at this time,'' said the Reverend Joan Harrell, minister of communications.
[/quote]
I bet FAMU wouldn't have canceled his degree!
