Posted on 06/04/2008 5:28:03 PM PDT by Graybeard58
Defiant St. Sabina parishioners demanded Cardinal Francis George reinstate their controversial pastor, the Rev. Michael Pfleger, just hours after he was removed Tuesday from his post against his wishes.
"We respectfully request the cardinal immediately reinstate Father Pfleger as full pastor of St. Sabina," Gerald Stewart, president of the parish council, told an estimated 2,000 people packed into the South Side church Tuesday evening. The group included longtime Pfleger friend the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who has been blasted for his own controversial statements on race.
Stewart said parishioners wanted an immediate meeting with the cardinal to discuss "the future of the entire faith community of St. Sabina." Pfleger did not attend the prayer service, but was on the St. Sabina campus, said Randall Blakey, a parish Cabinet member. Pfleger and Wright went out to dinner after the service.
On Tuesday afternoon, George issued a statement saying he asked Pfleger to "step back" and take a "couple of weeks" of leave from St. Sabina.
"Father Pfleger does not believe this to be the right step at this time," the statement read. "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."
Church members are concerned that the leave could be more than a couple of weeks.
George's directive followed several turbulent days where video footage of Pfleger preaching at Wright's Trinity United Church of Christ surfaced on YouTube. In the sermon, Pfleger describes Hillary Clinton as tearing up at a campaign appearance upset because a black man, Barack Obama, was "stealing [her] show." Pfleger later apologized.
Outside St. Sabina Tuesday evening, a security detail stopped reporters from entering the church during the service for Pfleger. Many attending the service declined to speak to reporters, angry with media coverage they believed contributed to his removal. Reporters were allowed in for a press conference at the end of the service.
George said in the statement he hoped that life at St. Sabina would continue "in uninterrupted fashion" without Pfleger. Parishioners Tuesday said that couldn't happen.
About 15 members of a St. Sabina young adult group called Passing the Baton started a hunger strike in the church sanctuary Tuesday. Blair Matthews, 18, said the group planned to "fast and pray" inside the church until Pfleger is reinstated.
Another parishioner, Nicholas Wallace, had his own concerns.
"If he leaves, there's a lot of things that may just stop," said the 30-year-old who does maintenance work at the church. "There's a lot of people leaning on St. Sabina for financial support, mental support, spiritual support."
Wallace said people in the church and broader community rely on Pfleger for counseling, food and clothing. Pfleger also was active in ministerial duties like helping couples plan for their weddings, he said.
While the cardinal has forced Pfleger to take time off and appointed a temporary administrator in his place, Pfleger remains pastor of St. Sabina, said Susan Burritt, a spokeswoman for the archdiocese.
"It's not a canonical process. It is not a sanction. This was a request from the archbishop to his priest," she said. When asked whether Pfleger could remain in St. Sabina rectory during his leave, attend mass there or continue to have regular contact with his parishioners, Burritt said further details were not available.
"There are no real restrictions on Father," she said, "but certainly the cardinal hopes Father will spend that time away from the parish and use the time to reflect. ... The hope is that he can refocus and reflect during this time."
The Rev. William Vanecko, pastor of the much-smaller St. Kilian's parish located eight blocks from St. Sabina, will fill in as temporary administrator.
Vanecko, known to parishioners as "Father V," declined interviews, saying the archdiocese told him not to comment. Vanecko's brother, Robert Vanecko, is married to Mayor Daley's sister Mary Carol.
While Vanecko might not be seen leading an anti-gun protest through the Chicago streets, a typical Pfleger activity, neighbors and parishioners said he was committed to the neighborhood. He allowed the local block club to meet in the rectory basement, and served as president of the Illinois Hunger Coalition board.
"He's not an activist like Father Pfleger, but he's involved with a lot of causes," said Myron Crowe, 56, a former parishioner who left St. Kilian to start his own ministry. "He's a well-rounded person."
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and his advisers said although they were troubled by Pfleger's remarks, they were saddened by his removal.
Obama "just heard that news and obviously events of the last week have been disturbing," said David Axelrod, Obama's senior adviser. "I feel sad for him and for the church community. He's done good work in those neighborhoods. All you have to do is look around to see it."
The good “Father” needs to tend to his flock and stay out of politics.
Pfleger’s pfate
They don’t trust in God, they trust in Father Phleger
I wonder how many years it has been since the words Jesus Christ were spoken in this church other than in vain?
THIS....people leaving the CHURCH to start their OWN MINISTRY, is what is wrong with these LIBERAL CHURCHES!!!
Pflegler is a CHARLATAN who happens to do a few good things. I’ll bet he’s PRO_CHOICE!
I don’t see anything on the list of what Fr. Pfleger does that isn’t on any pastor’s list.
Hmmmm, I wonder what type of spiritual and mental support the get from Father Pfleger. Sounds like a lot of mush head liberal to me. Sounds like the parishioner’s make good dimocRATS.
LOL!
Stand firm, Cardinal George.
The faithful can see the necessity of his removal-long overdue.
Scarcely the role of a humble servant of God and shepherd of a flock.
Now he's bucking his superior which is against his vows. As Shakespeare would put it, the belligerent and defiant Pfleger's reach has finally exceeded his grasp.....and methinks he's in deep pfdoo-pfdoo.
I haven’t researched him but it seems to me his parish community loves him.I pray for his vocation and him to be careful with words which sometimes speak louder than actions.I have been to black churches and the words are not new but as a Catholic priest he has to stay out of politics.He does need time to think this out.
What is up with that guy’s voice? Is that some kind of weird dialect or what?
I heard pretty extensive cuts of his Trinity speech at Townhall.He actually sounded like he was trying to sound creepy. And the cheering throngs of Trinity congregants in the background.
Sucha a disgrace that this should be called “church”!!
Re: previous post....people who I have spoken with. Oops.
He sounds creepy! I can’t believe african-americans in Chicago are all going nuts over that kind of pandering.
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