U.S. presidential hopeful Barack Obama on Saturday resigned from the church where controversial sermons by his former pastor and other ministers created political headaches for his campaign.

"We don't want to have to answer for everything that's stated in the church," the Democratic presidential front-runner told supporters in South Dakota, according to TV news reports.

"We also don't want the church subjected to the scrutiny that a presidential campaign legitimately undergoes," he said.

Nevertheless, the senator from Illinois admitted there was "some sadness" for him to break with the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois, where he has been a member for the past 16 years.

"This is not a decision I come to lightly," he said.

The resignation comes days after the Rev. Michael Pfleger, a visiting Catholic priest, mocked Obama's Democratic rival Hillary Clinton during a sermon at the church.

Pfleger is also a friend of Trinity United Church of Christ's former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, from whom Obama distanced himself in April.

Obama said the Pfleger controversy made it clear that as long as he remained a member of the church, remarks from the pulpit would be "imputed" to him, even if they conflicted with his personal views.

He said he and his wife, Michelle, began discussing a departure from the church after Wright spoke at the National Press Club on April 28.

During the appearance, Wright pointed out that Obama "distanced" him for political reasons.

Wright, Obama's minister for about 20 years, drew unwanted attention for the campaign when videos of his controversial sermons surfaced earlier this year.

The former pastor even said the United States should blame itself for the Sept. 11 terror attacks, among other "outrageous remarks."

Analysts said Obama's move to break with the church and his former pastor is aimed to remove a political liability which could be played into the hands of the Republicans in the general election.

(Xinhua News Agency June 1, 2008)