By Father Jonathan Morris
FOX News Religion Contributor

You would think Senator Obama’s letter of resignation from Trinity United Church was a good move.
That is, unless you have read the letter. And from what I’m witnessing, it seems nobody has—or perhaps they have read it with only an eye for politics.

The left is cheering the senator’s decision to leave the church as courageous. The right is questioning why it took so long.

But has anyone read the letter’s content for what it says about Senator Obama, the man?

In one paragraph—in one line—in an otherwise official-sounding communiqué, Senator Obama gives us insight into what he really thinks about what’s going on at Trinity. I consider it by far the most telling piece of information yet about whether his pastor problems have anything to do with his readiness to be the President of the United States of America.

But first, let’s recall: When the original videos of Rev. Wright made their rounds, Senator Obama assured the press this was not the man he knows; it was out of context and an unjust caricature of a very good and learned person, his friend and spiritual guide. But Rev. Wright kept talking. He made his way to the National Press Club and spewed out more venom, including continued praise of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan and the communist Sandinista regime of Nicaragua; his theory that the U.S. government created the HIV virus to get rid of racial minorities; a demand for the U.S. government to apologize for slavery. Of most note, however, was his claim that the only reason Senator Obama had distanced himself from Rev. Wright was because he wants to get elected. “He didn’t distance himself,” Wright announced, “He had to distance himself, because he’s a politician, from what the media was saying I had said, which was anti-American.” You would think a spiritual mentor of twenty years would know the mind and heart of his disciple. Who knows?

In any case, Senator Obama was now forced to make a definitive break. Curiously, he broke only from Rev. Wright and maintained his membership in Trinity. He explained his decision by pointing to Rev. Wright’s pending retirement and the new leadership of Rev. Otis Moss, whom he then identified as “a wonderful young pastor” whom he knew and trusted. — Loyalty was what came to mind.

Then comes ”Pastorgate II”. A new video recording is released showing Roman Catholic priest, Michael Pfleger, giving a racist, sexist, crude and demeaning sermon, a stinging defense of Senator Obama against “white entitlement”. It quickly came to light that Fr. Pfleger has been twice a major recipient of earmark funds from Senator Obama’s political advocacy, and more importantly, he is another one of his longtime “spiritual guides” (Rev. Obama’s own words). Was his relationship with Fr. Pfleger part of the “context” which Senator Obama said was needed in order to understand Rev. Wright’s inflammatory words? Should we understand Senator Obama’s religious convictions by looking at his other spiritual role models? In 2004 Senator Obama told The Chicago Sun-Times that Fr. Pfleger helped him “keep his moral compass straight.”

For those of us who knew of Fr. Pfleger’s long history of controversy in the South Side of Chicago, we’re saddened, but not surprised by the show. He is a social activist inspired by liberation theology who for many years has watched his step closely so as not to break canon law (Church law) and thus give his local bishop legal grounds to remove him from ministry.

What was more surprising than the content of his sermon, however, was its locale and timing. The sermon was given at Trinity church last week and under the new leadership and at the explicit request of that “wonderful young pastor”, Rev. Otis Moss.

Now, let’s not be too quick to judge. We know sometimes guests say some unwelcome things. I was hoping this had been the case here. It wasn’t.

At the end of Fr. Pfleger’s despicable tirade, and to the sound of feral applause, Rev. Otis—Senator Obama’s new pastor—had this to say: “we thank God for the message and we thank God for the messenger”. If Senator Obama was waiting for good reason to resign his membership from Trinity, there it was, staring, yelling at us all.

Rev. Wright’s replacement—a man whom Senator Obama knew well and praised for his leadership just weeks before—was acting like Rev. Wright and even inviting another one of Senator Obama’s spiritual guides to come and act like Rev. Wright, too.

It all sounds so implausible. Could it be that a party’s presidential nominee could get it so wrong, so many times?

But as I said, none of this history comes close to the importance of the content of Senator Obama’s letter of resignation. As I said, one line in it was the single most telling piece of information yet about whether Senator Obama’s pastor problems have anything to say about his readiness to be president.

In their letter Barack and Michelle Obama direct themselves to Rev. Otis Moss, the man who just one week before thanked God “for the message and the messenger”: Fr. Michael Pfleger.

Their thoughts about the type of leadership the new pastor is giving? “We also have come to appreciate your ministry and both think you have been, and will be, a wonderful pastor for years to come.”

I’ll let others decide if Senator Obama’s letter of resignation from Trinity was a good political move. To me, on a very different level, it spoke volumes.

God bless, Father Jonathan

P.S. In reference to Fr. Pfleger, I spoke of “liberation theology.” For more information on this theological trend as it relates to Senator Obama’s own background, you may want to look at my column from last week, you can find it here . Here is also a link to my comments on this subject on yesterday’s edition of FOX & Friends.

Father Jonathan Morris is author of the new book, “The Promise: God’s Purpose and Plan for when Life Hurts”. For information go to www.fatherjonathan.com