Posted on 05/31/2008 6:01:05 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The Rev. Michael Pfleger, who helped reignite Barack Obama's pastor problems by mocking Hillary Clinton, said this evening he's received "thousands of hate threats" since his videotaped pulpit rant.
"They want to kill me," Pfleger told parishioners during a service in a St. Sabina Church chapel on Chicago's South Side this evening. "It's been very ugly."
The firebrand Catholic Priest made his controversial Clinton comments last Sunday at Trinity United Church of Christ, home church of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama's former pastor.
Pfleger mocked Clinton for crying on the campaign trail, and suggested it was "white entitlement" leading Clinton to believe the Democratic nomination should go to her -- not Obama.
His speech was videotaped, and quickly made the rounds on the Internet and on television, leading Obama to express his ÒdisappointmentÓ in the activist priest, whom he has known for years.
Pfleger's boss, Cardinal Francis George, on Friday also rebuked Pfleger for his "personal attack" on Clinton, and said he had received assurances from Pfleger that he would no longer campaign for or even mention the names of political candidates.
In his brief comments this evening, Pfleger did not name any candidates, and said he would address the controversy at a Sunday mass at St. Sabina.
"I'm not going to make a statement," Pfleger told the crowded chapel. "My real statement will be tomorrow."
But he did say it's been a difficult week filled with an unspecified surgery on Tuesday and a deluge of threats.
"It's a very difficult situation," he said. "I've received thousands of hate threats."
He did not offer any specifics from the pulpit, and declined through an aide to comment further. That included declining a specific request by the Sun-Times for a comment on Obama's decision to leave Trinity church.
That bombshell revelation came out Saturday. It followed weeks of Trinity-related headaches for the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Obama was a longtime member of the church. Wright married Obama and his wife, Michelle, and baptized their two daughters. But Obama had to publicly distance himself from Wright after videotaped sermons hit the Internet showing Wright criticizing the U.S. government including exclaiming "God damn America!"
Pfleger has already apologized for his searing sermonizing, saying in a statement, "I regret the words I chose on Sunday. These words are inconsistent with Senator Obama's life and message, and I am deeply sorry if they offended Sen. Clinton or anyone else who saw them."
In his address at Trinity last Sunday, Pfleger began by talking about the need to expose "white entitlement and supremacy wherever it raises its head," according to a video clip on YouTube. Pfleger speaks of Clinton's tearing up just before the New Hampshire primary.
"I really don't believe it was put on," Pfleger said. "I really believe that she just always thought, "This is mine! I'm Bill's wife, I'm white, and this is mine! I just gotta get up and step into the plate." And then out of nowhere came, "Hey, I'm Barack Obama," and she said, "Oh, damn! Where did you come from? I'm white! I'm entitled! There's a black man stealing my show!'"
Mimicking Clinton mopping tears, Pfleger added, "She wasn't the only one crying, there was a whole lot of white people crying."
Can anyone imagine if a white Pastor preached hate against Blacks? Yet, this hate preaching against white Americans is allowed to go on without any repercussions whatsoever.
And SWEARING from the pulpit, no less!! I don't want to kill him, but I do want to (open hand) slap him really hard.
He's been a "hate whitey" priest for a long time. He and Obama's Rev Wright are good buds. I'm sure the other day was not the first time he and Trinity got together.
What's good is that this video and others of the "hate whitey" genre will make a good showing between now and November.
Really? Clearly, it's getting too hard to hide the festering hate and racism in that so-called church anymore. Obamamama's going to have to publicly renounce it, along with Wright, Farrakhan, Ayres, Rezko, and his white grandmother. Who's left? Oh yes; the lovely and charming Michelle.
Will the hierarchy of his religion now stifle his murderous and insightful hateful speaking, or just send him to another parish like they did for years with their known pedophile clergy?
Words...they're just words...
ROFL!
I don’t think that any Catholic can participate in another religion’s service. It’s OK to attend a funeral or wedding or just go to church with your non-Catholic spouse but be the star of the show? NO
I really don’t think a priest should be anywhere near that place. What does his bishop say about that?
They need to invite him to speak at the National Press Club.
It sounds like he will defend his comments content, but regret the style. If he does a good job..why he may get a million dollar house like Rev. Wrong.
It just shows you what is going on in S. Chicago while no one pays attention.
I wonder if some enterprising Freeper can post the list of members of Trinity. Many churches have a year book..that might be interesting. Maybe there are a few more Rats that could be cleaned out. Who the hell was cheering this on?
Rich black bureaucrats, lawyers, pols?
They need to invite him to speak at the National Press Club.
It sounds like he will defend his comments content, but regret the style. If he does a good job..why he may get a million dollar house like Rev. Wrong.
It just shows you what is going on in S. Chicago while no one pays attention.
I wonder if some enterprising Freeper can post the list of members of Trinity. Many churches have a year book..that might be interesting. Maybe there are a few more Rats that could be cleaned out. Who the hell was cheering this on?
Rich black bureaucrats, lawyers, pols?
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He’s a “gifted” priest. I.e., a rabble-rouser. A “golden boy,” one who has always had what he wanted—the parish he wanted, etc. When Cardinal George gives him an order, he tells the Cardinal to shove it.
Pfleger is a symptom of the putrefaction in the Archdiocese of Chicago. The wheeler-dealer Cody, the gay Bernardin, the weak George.
It is totally improper for a Catholic priest to be preaching about HIMSELF. The homily is supposed to be on the GOSPEL that is read at Mass.
If you’ve ever seen video of Pfleger at Mass—in a dashiki, dancing around the altar, screaming and carrying on—you’d know he’s not a Catholic. He’s also pro-abortion, needless to say.
No, the words are CORRECT......
Obamy is the second Messiah. /sarc
This Catholic can only conclude he is mentally unstable. but then, that can probably be said of the pedophile protecting Cardinal Mahoney.
As a white Irish Catholic from the South Side of Chicago, I have some knowledge of Pfleger. He’s unusual, if not unique. Became impressed at an early age with the black firebrand preaching style and adopted it as his own. He’s been at St. Sabina’s for a long time. Had run-ins with Cardinal Cody, Bernardin, and now George. Numerous attempts have been made to bounce him, but he is very popular with his parish, which was dying when he took over; he made it thrive as never before. He has done a lot of good for his neighborhood. But some guys fit well into a particular niche, and don’t gain luster when seen in a larger context.
From NR tonight:
http://chicago.everyblock.com/crime/
Mr Pfleger has left his mark on his home turf with his message of peace and hope. His zip is 60628. Highest number of crimes in the city. 2,290 in the last 11 months. (About 7 a day). The right rev wright has similarly healed the wounds and lifted the spirits of his neighbors in zip 60628. Second highest number of crimes in the city. 2273 in the last 11 months. (Just under 7 a day) Clearly their fire breathing message of hate has led many of their impressionable youths to have no respect for themselves, their neighbors or the law. Nice going guys.
PS the soul saving right rev wrights new home is in Tinley Park. 124 crimes in 2006 (0.3 per day) Sweet!
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