The Democrat and Chronicle did an enormous public service this morning by publishing a group of Speaking Out pieces by area African-American clergy on "race and religion in America." The Revs. Gay Byron, Marlowe Washington, Kenneth James, and Adrienne Phillips addressed the topics of black-liberation theology, the vilifying of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, and the mission and the voice of the black church.

Barack Obama's former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, has taken a lot of heat for pointing out the United States' own violence abroad a few days after 9/11 and for saying, "the chickens have come home to roost." Kenneth James urges that Wright's comments "should have been discussed on theological grounds." And, he says, there are theological questions for thoughtful people to discuss - including whether there is a connection between such tragedies as 9/11 and "the behavior of a people or a nation."

"The ‘Don't hate me because I'm beautiful' defense of US foreign policy is an insufficient answer" to such questions, writes James.

Adrienne Phillips notes the importance of social protest in the history of the black church. "For modern-day prophets," she writes, "the challenge is no less than that of prophets of old: to speak truth that not all want to hear or are able to receive."

It's a good, strong collection of messages that white America needs to hear. The links to the individual pieces: Gay Byron, Marlowe Washington, Kenneth James, and Adrienne Phillips.