Cardinal Francis George (left) Rev. Michael Pfleger (Tribune photos / April 27, 2011)
Posted on 04/28/2011 7:59:27 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Church leaders from the St. Sabina parish have called for a rally in front of Cardinal Francis George's mansion this morning to protest the removal of their pastor, the Rev. Michael Pfleger.
"Please spread the word," the parish leaders say in a posting on a website in Pfleger's name. A secretary at the church said this morning that the rally will include a news conference at the cardinal's home at 1555 N. State Parkway.
On Wednesday, the tension that has simmered for decades between Pfleger and the Archdiocese of Chicago came to a head when George suspended the outspoken priest from St. Sabina, the South Side parish he has led for nearly 30 years.
....Associate minister Kimberly Lymore said Pfleger had been called to a 4:30 p.m. meeting with the cardinal at the archdiocese's pastoral center. When he arrived, she said, Pfleger was given a letter stating that he was suspended and was told the cardinal would not discuss it further.
"That's a lack of respect," Lymore said. "He was ambushed. He's spent the last (three decades) in this archdiocese, given his life to this community, to the church. To be treated like this is unfair."
....Priests generally remain at a parish for 12 years, but occasional exceptions are made in African-American parishes, where some parents went to the church because their children went to the parochial schools.
Smith said it is unfortunate that the African-American community views Pfleger's reassignment in a negative way. He said he is hopeful that the parish will eventually be receptive to hearing the gospel from someone else.
"I would say he's been there too long and that's why there's this situation of bickering and misunderstanding. That's why rules are in place to prevent things like that from happening," Smith said.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Cardinal Francis George (left) Rev. Michael Pfleger (Tribune photos / April 27, 2011)
FIY (cards are falling down)
By Michelle Malkin • May 29, 2008 - He’s baaaack: Obama supporter Rev. Michael Pfleger flogs Hillary’s “white entitlement” on the pulpit [excerpt] --- "I’ve reported before on Obama supporter/spiritual advisor/Jeremiah Wright chum/Farrakhan cheerleader Rev. Michael Pfleger and his racial demagoguery (see March 29 and April 30).
Pfleger, who until recently was featured on the Obama campaign website as a spiritual endorser, was back at Obama’s Trinity United Church this weekend mocking Hillary Clinton’s “white entitlement.” It’s one thing to ridicule Hillary’s sense of political and ideological entitlement as part of the Clinton dynasty. But the demagogic emphasis on her race from this hate preacher on the pulpit is quite another thing. You really have to see his performance to believe it.
Here’s the video that’s getting around. I’ve transcribed it below as well if you can’t stomach the antics: [end excerpt]
The Church doesn’t know how to excommunicate this heretic along with Pelosi . . . . should be done publicly. Rally for the devil’s disciple. Pathetic.
This in and of itself was cause for removal. His Eminence Cardinal George has heen cowardly IMHO.
I’d still like to know how a catholic priest gets to adopt a child.
Pfleger most certainly should have been removed years ago. I wonder what gave Cdl George the courage to finally act?
“....Pfleger, who is also close friends with Reverend Jeremiah Wright and a supporter of Louis Farrakhan, is a half crazed “social justice” radical whose violent language directed toward whites, gun owners, capitalists, and other targets has more than once gotten him in trouble with the Catholic church. Cardinal George and his predecessor Cardinal Bernardin have never quite figured out how to handle the troublesome priest. Pfleger has a large following among African Americans - both Catholics and non-Catholics - and his political clout is considerable. Politicians court him as if he were another politician. Obama has known him since his days as a community organizer....”
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/04/chicago_cardinal_suspends_obam.html
Take photos and take down the names of any demonstrators.
Ban them from any official role in any parish activities other than worshipping in the pew (or asstudents in hardcore remedial catechesis).
Referring to Pfleger as "outspoken" is like referring to 0bama as "somewhat left of center."
Or Hugo Chavez as “fire brand.”
Perhaps they’ll put a preist in there who is actually a Christian.
Don’t know how he kept his position for so long. Never heard of a priest being left in one parish for so long. This is long overdue. Saw a lady on last night’s news say she will leave St. Sabina if Pfleger goes. Apparently she has a closer connection with him than with her God if that is her deciding factor....
When a priest has organized cult followers complete with radicals, apostates, slavish idiots and smitten women, it's time for him to be assigned to clerical duties in Peoria.
The Cardinal is making a mistake letting Pfleger hang around. He should have been on the first bus out of Dodge.
Get him out, NOW! Malcontents like this manipulative priest know how to make disruptive, even violent, cause celebres out of what should be a orderly transfer.
Leni
Cardinal George brought this on himself. He should have defrocked Pfleger years ago.
And how could he have considered sending Pfleger to poison the minds of young people at a high school as the solution to the obedience problem?
They should kick this abomination so far out of the church that it will take an actual, heartfelt act of repentence to find his way back.
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