The Rev. Michael Pfleger was reinstated in his position as priest at St. Sabina Catholic Church in Auburn Gresham following an investigation into a child sex abuse claim against him from decades ago, the Archdiocese of Chicago announced Monday.
In July, Pfleger was accused of sexually abusing a girl who was a student at St. Sabina between 1993 and 1995. It was the fifth similar accusation against Pfleger within five years. He staunchly denied the most recent accusation as the archdiocese's Independent Review Board investigated.
The archdiocese said the investigation concluded, "There is no reason to believe Father Pfleger is guilty of this allegation."
"I want to recognize the suffering you and Father Mike have endured, for I know his absence has been real and painful. But I ask you to allow God’s Word this weekend to free you from any sadness and disappointment," Cardinal Blase Cupich said in the statement.
Cupich praised the investigation process and encouraged parishioners to look to their faith for support as they process Pfleger's absence.
"In short, no one should underestimate the value of an independent and disciplined inquiry, even if it is made public and requires a substantial amount of time," he wrote.
Pfleger posted his appreciation on Facebook, accompanied by a link to the archdiocese's statement and a photo of Michael Jordan captioned "I'm back."
"Thank you God, and thanks to all who stood by me," Pfleger wrote.
After the accusation surfaced in July, some parish leaders called for an overhaul of its abuse investigation process, pushing for a more balanced approach that provides due process for the accused while protecting survivors of abuse.
Some of the demands from St. Sabina leaders included:
- More transparency about investigation timelines and procedures
- Quicker resolutions to cases
- Independent review of allegations
- A tiered suspension policy that would consider factors such as the age of an allegation and whether there is an ongoing risk to children.
Pfleger has been at the now predominantly Black Catholic church since 1981. He has since become a South Side staple in activism and community work.
