Church buys million-dollar home for Obama's ex-pastor

Sen. Barack Obama's Chicago church is buying a $1 million home for its controversial retired pastor who has become a central figure in the Democratic presidential race, records show.

The 10,000-square-foot home in South suburan Tinley Park features four bedrooms, an elevator, an exercise room and a four-car garage, according to building plans reviewed by the SouthtownStar.

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who retired from Trinity United Church of Christ last month, purchased the land in 2004 for $345,000, according to property records reviewed by The Associated Press and the Chicago Tribune.

He sold the land to the church two years later, which took out a $1.6 million mortgage on the property and is now listed as the land owner.

Trinity authorities declined to comment Saturday.

But a spokesman for the church's national headquarters said it is "customary and appropriate" to provide housing for retired clergy, especially those who have served the church for many years.

"Each local UCC congregation is free to honor a retiring pastor in ways it feels most appropriate to address the needs of that clergyperson's circumstances," according to a prepared statement by Rev. J. Bennett Guess.

Wright, 66, remains a senior pastor at Trinity -- a large and vibrant black church on Chicago's South Side.

He officiated at Obama's wedding and was the Illinois senator's spiritual mentor for years, but has become a recent thorn in the side of the Democratic campaign after videos circulated of the pastor condemning the U.S. government for allegedly racist and genocidal acts.

Obama condemned remarks from Wright, but he did not leave the church or repudiate the minister himself, who he said was like a family member.