Posted on 05/31/2008 9:38:46 AM PDT by boromeo
In spite of the the instructions by Cardinal George to stay out of politics, Rev. Michael Pfleger and the St. Sabina Church website continue to broadcast the same political and partisan nonsense that has characterized Pfleger's bizarre career in the priesthood. "Senator Obama has spent the past two years and years earlier in his political life presenting America a vision of hope. Hope as to who we can be, how we can be inclusive and different, how we can do politics differently, and how we can build a new and better America. This vision of hope has set a fire of enthusiasm, excitement, and involvement across this country. Reverend Wright, as a gifted preacher in the prophetic tradition, has spent his ministry identifying the sins, problems, and stumbling blocks of racism, sexism, classism, poverty, inequality, and the down right lies that must be acknowledged and eradicated if we are to build a new and better America. He has given hope to masses of people who have come to feel invisible in America. The truth is we need both!" To view St. Sabina's website, go to http://a.saintsabina.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
...BS!... It hasn't! There are more good priests than bad. There are bad people in all religions, but it's just the Catholics you hear about.
yeah, that’s the problem with the Catholic church...as Flannery O’Connor said, it’s “here comes everybody”...
Lots of nutcases. but if you throw out all the nuts and sinners, you harm a lot of people...that sardonic carpenter tells the story of “the wheat and the Tares”: pull out the weeds too vigorously, and you pull out half the wheat....
IOW, do nothing and let Father A$$hat continue his embarrassing behavior because next time...next time his boss might...might....say something again? Ooh, I’m all aquiver.
This situation is almost unique. Some key points:
Cardinal George is a good, devout and sincere Catholic bishop; he’s not of the Mahony-Skylstad-Brown-Neiderhauer-Vlazny-etc wimpy, leftist ilk.
However, he can’t just kick a— and take names a la Burke or Bruskewitz style, due to a few factors particular to the Chicago archdiocese:
(a) it’s chock-full of gay priests, possibly more than any other in the country, more gays that normal men there.
(b) this is Chicago: town of graft, corruption, bribery, threats. It’s quite possible the Cardinal has not had *complete* freedom to exercise his episcopal authority. Phleger himself has his own bodyguard; he’s friends with Wright and Farrakhan; these are mean, tough, rough guys backed by lots of money and political clout too, all inter-connected, including some cohorts in law enforcement. It’s not beyond imagining that Cardinal George has tread lightly due to concern for his own safety or that of his flock or staff.
Cardinal George has actually been taking little steps over past 3 or 4 years to try to get Phleger under control. But the “priest” is powerfully entrenched and outright defiant. He cannot be disciplined in usual ways because (a) he won’t obey; (b) it would create a huge furor in the community, virtually grinding all other matters to a halt in a large archdiocese with lots of fires to be put out.
The fact that Cardinal George issued a formal press release distancing himself from Phleger and chastising him shows the momentum going in the right direction. That is essentially a public declaration of condemnation, not just a private church disciplinary action. I believe the Cardinal has been doing things gradually to try to set the stage to get rid of Phleger when it becomes possible to do so without great risks.
Good points reminding us all that Cardinal George needs our prayers.
Well, they are wrecking the catholic religion.
I believe the Cardinal has been doing things gradually to try to set the stage to get rid of Phleger when it becomes possible to do so without great risks.
I sincerely hope so, and he doe need our prayers, as the poster subsequent to you pointed out. Perhaps it would be good to remind him of our support of his discipline of Rev. Pfleger.
To respectfully contact the Archbishop of Chicago:
His Eminence Cardinal Francis George
155 E. Superior St.
Chicago, IL 60611
Tel. (312) 751-8230
So much for Pope John Paul II and Solidarity!!
Good grief. I honestly don't understand why Cdl George lets him get away with that. What kind of "church" needs to hide its "guest list?"
I'm sure this is difficult for the Cardinal, but the longer he waits to do something, the worse it's going to be.
Err...”Just For U Ministries”...????? They can say that with a straight face?
Like most mortals, he is good in many ways.
“but he is popular in his church and if you throw him out, you might be putting other souls in jeopardy.”
Given his history, if you keep him in you are risking more.
“Like most mortals, he is good in many ways.”
Not that I agree with that premise (if we were really good, why do we need Salvation?) but could you name say...3 of those ways?
am upset that my religion has come to this. My priests are gay, or they are extremely feminine. I have just sadness over the situation.
...BS!... It hasn’t! There are more good priests than bad. There are bad people in all religions, but it’s just the Catholics you hear about.
I wish you were right, honey.
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