Cardinal removes Pfleger from St. Sabina parish

Source: Chicago Sun Times

The firebrand pastor of St. Sabina parish was removed from his duties there Tuesday, according to a statement released by the Archdiocese of Chicago.

In the statement, Cardinal Francis George says he asked the Rev. Michael Pfleger, 59, to "take leave for a couple of weeks from his pastoral duties."The statement said Pfleger "does not believe this to be the right step at this time." "While respecting his disagreement, I have nevertheless asked him to use this opportunity to reflect on his recent statements and actions in the light of the Church's regulations for all Catholic priests," George said.

The recent statements in question were video clips broadcast on You Tube where Pfleger mocked Hillary Clinton for crying on the campaign trail. He suggested her tears were due to "white entitlement" leading Clinton to believe the Democratic nomination should go to her, not Barack Obama.

Pfleger has been a priest for 33 years, serving nearly all that time at St. Sabina's in the Auburn-Gresham neighborhood.


Read more: http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/religion/985091,pfleger060308.article

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i figured he was trying to stir that crap up again w/obama/wright and get his face on the news. well, he managed both.

i was horrified.

(however, i some have said he should go into stand-up)

I guess His Grace the Cardinal is a Clinton supporter.

is not the place to air your political views, especially when they are as vile as his.

You don't have to be a Clinton supporter to recognize trash talk when you hear it.

It's wrong when the right wing does it. It's wrong in this case as well.

Politics and religion doesn't mix. I don't care WHO is being supported.

The most that should be said, is to get them out to vote. No party politics, no candidates supported. NOTHING along those lines!

Having Obama swing state and federal money to Pfleger's church suddenly looks bad--it means that it wasn't just somebody Obama saw in church one, it was a ministry that he used his political clout (such as it was) to support. There's no undoing that, the money's allocated and long spent. The only way to blunt that line of attack for a political ad is to dispose of Pfleger.

But there's more political damage waiting. Pfleger's apology--like Obama's quitting the UCC church--isn't enough. The MSM thinks it is, but it isn't.

Axelrod's position--if the story is true--on Pfleger's fundraising committee is a tie that would have to be cut, as well, if Pfleger remained. Obama could dispose of Axelrod, which would do the trick, but he's his chief strategist and that would hurt; Obama doesn't do things to hurt himself any more than he allows things to hurt him: Chi-pol. The alternative is that Axelrod could quit his position--but doing so only after political pressure is applied, *not* after Pfleger's rants go viral, is only a partial fix; Obama supports a guy who supports Pfleger, even after the rants? News at 10. But disposing of Pfleger also blunts that particular line of attack, Axelrod can just say he knew it was in the works, and his fundraising helps the disadvantaged.

they would have just 'transferred' him then.

Source: WMGT-TV

Cardinal Francis George has asked a Chicago priest to temporarily step down from his post to "reflect on his recent statements" regarding Hillary Clinton and her bid for the White House.

Last week, the Reverend Michael Pfleger mocked Clinton at Barack Obama's former church, saying the New York senator felt "entitled" to the Democratic nomination for president.

In a guest sermon at Trinity United Church of Christ, Pfleger pretended he was Clinton crying over "a black man stealing my show."

Pfleger's sermon, along with past controversial statements by Trinity's former longtime pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, led Obama to resign his membership at Trinity. Pfleger apologized for his comments Sunday.

Read more: http://www.wmgt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1092&Itemid=113

The hierarchical church at work.

It is a beautiful thing hierarchy, isn't it?


I knew when the rest of the church saw his delivery style they would pressure on his diocese to reform St. Sabrina.

all over the world.

What we're seeing there is reactionary power at work.

That catholic super-cult needs to get their priorities straight and send their pedophiles to jail or just STFU.

In the Chicago Archdiocese, a pastor can stay at a parish about 10 years (and can stay on 2 more, methinks, if the Cardinal allows it). Fr. Phlager has been at St. Sabina since 1981.

There are very good reasons for this. Mostly it prevents a parish from becoming a private fiefdom of a priest. It cuts down on corruption. It allows spiritual renewal, yada yada yada.

Fr. Phlager raised a huge stink the last time he was scheduled to leave. St. Sabina is unique in the Archdiocese. The former pastor, Father Clements adopted a boy (with permission). Father Clemenets was very active and very well known. Fr. Phlager took over and continued to raise St. Sabina. It is considered the premier "black" parish.

Why has Fr. Phlager been allowed to stay? Politics. Cardinal George attended a Mass there shortly after being installed and was reported to have quipped :It was very interesting. I'm not sure it was a Mass, but it was interesting." St. Sabina's services do not resemble most Catholic Masses. It has much more to do with the African American, fundamentalist and charismatic tradition. Obviously there are great conflicts between the fundamentalist and charismatic tradition and Catholic doctrine.

Anyway, Cardinal George has wanted him gone for a long time but can't get rid of him because of Fr. Phlager's political connections -- and Barack Obama is not the least of them. (Cardinal George is also uncomfortable with Fr. Phlager's longtime public and very affectionate relationship with Chris Zorich - the former Notre Damer and Chicago Bear). Until now there would be hell to pay if he removed or transferred him. Fr. Phlager just gave him his chance.

Every bit as conclusive as the Dean Scream. But when Rush Limbaugh does his "Lookit me! I've got Parkinson's!" shimmy shake, he keeps pulling down an eight-figure income.

Anyone who thinks that 30 second clip of Pfleger is a fair representation of his career is . . . well, let's just leave it at either remarkably naive or disingenuous.