The leader of the African Methodist Episcopal church in Georgia is defending the embattled former pastor of Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama.

Bishop William Phillips DeVeaux says the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. has been unfairly accused of preaching racial hatred.

DeVeaux called the recently retired Wright "one of the most eminent preachers of our time" and accused the national media of taking Wright's words out of context for "a salacious soundbite."

"To be honest, I think we've made a bit more of this than we should," said DeVeaux, who leads 80,000 AME members and clergy in Georgia.

Wright became an issue in the presidential race when video clips surfaced of sermons including heated and controversial comments about America on topics from AIDS to the Iraq war. He preached at Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ, where Obama has been a member for about 20 years.

Critics have accused Wright of preaching an inflammatory message and questioned why Obama stayed in the church. Obama has decried some comments as wrong and divisive.

DeVeaux said Wright's remarks must be taken in the proper theological, political and cultural context.

"He's not actually damning America, but calling America to task for activities that are not consistent with his understanding of God's will," DeVeaux said.

The black church historically has been a place where African-Americans feel free to address social and political issues, DeVeaux noted.

DeVeaux praised Obama for disavowing Wright's statements but also for refusing to break his ties with the controversial spiritual leader or the megachurch.

"We don't do that," DeVeaux said. "We go where our spiritual lives can be uplifted and fed."

Trinity's new pastor, the Rev. Otis Moss, raised eyebrows himself with an Easter sermon in which he likened the media attention to Wright, who continues to enjoy the backing of the mainly white United Methodist denomination, to a lynching.

The bishop said he wants Georgia's AME church members to know his position on the controversy. He issued a statement after Obama's Philadelphia speech on the matter and spoke with the Journal-Constitution this week.

The international denomination, with more than 2 million members in the United States and abroad, last weekend gave its public support to Wright, calling him a victim of "reverse discrimination" and misunderstanding of black religious and cultural traditions