Once again, presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, were the issue at the forefront of campaign news this week after Wright gave a controversial speech at the National Press Club in Washington. The resulting public reaction has proven to be negative, linking the views of the pastor with those of Obama himself. This controversy is an intersection of politics, religion and personal judgment raising questions about Obama, and furthermore, how the American people should view candidates’ religious affiliations.

Here is what is at stake in this complicated debate: the political ramifications of religious and spiritual freedom that private citizens have guaranteed by the Constitution. The idea that Obama engaged in a relationship with a pastor over a 20-year period is very normal. Unfortunately for Obama, this pastor has made some remarks that can be perceived as divisive and controversial to say the least, such as: claiming that the U.S. government created the disease of AIDS to wipe out other races, that the United States deserved to be attacked on 9/11 and that God hates America in general. These statements are outside of Obama’s control. But what has worried the American public, and what has become the crux of the debate, is the judgment displayed by Obama in having a long-standing relationship with such a polarizing and controversial figure. This problem begs the question: under what level of scrutiny should we hold our presidential hopefuls for their religious beliefs and the actions of their spiritual advisers?

Ultimately, the practice of religion is something personal. People can hold whatever belief, if any, in whatever religion they wish. They can also choose to attend whatever house of worship they desire. But the basic question of religion is a controversial issue itself. Additionally, the pastoral role in religion combines religious interpretation, personal beliefs and a close relationship with the parishioners many times due to the subject matter. This combination means that the views of the parishioner may not always align with the political worldviews or spiritual interpretation of the pastor.

Obama cannot control what his pastor says, but he can choose who his pastor is. This is where the political element comes in. The question of religion and pastoral choice transcends from something personal into something public. If Wright had not made controversial statements, this would be a non-issue. Does this mean that potential presidents need to ensure that they need to associate only with uncontroversial figures? For Obama, what has made it a political problem is that his choice in pastor has become a reflection of his judgment. Obviously judgment in all arenas of interaction, but especially in politics, is a highly valued skill.

Obama’s critics have been on the attack for his connection with Wright. Conservative pundits finally have legitimate material to attack Obama rather than pointlessly mention that his middle name is “Hussein.” Many have come to Obama’s defense claiming that it was simply people not understanding the church’s style in which Obama attended, or that conservatives should not talk considering they have rubbed elbows with controversial pastors as well.

Yet Obama himself eventually had to admit on “Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace” that Wright’s contentious statements are, unfortunately for him, a genuine issue within his presidential campaign that he must address. Obama ultimately had to flat-out disown Wright’s comments, even though he (Obama) claimed this was an impossibility a month ago due to the fact that he could not “disown Wright anymore than I can disown my own grandmother.” Regrettably, Obama’s famous, articulate first speech on the topic of Wright now is obsolete due to Obama’s forced distancing from the reverend.

Though Obama’s opponents are using this issue for political gain, ironically, Republican nominee Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has avoided the issue and has claimed he will remain loyal to his promise to concentrate on the issues of our nation’s future. However, McCain’s beliefs are not echoed by the entire GOP establishment. In fact, the Republican Party in North Carolina are already using the Obama/Wright relationship as leverage against local Democratic gubernatorial and senate candidates. This event single-handedly confirms that this dramatic story of former friends is not going to fade away anytime soon and will be an issue in the general election.