Expressing feelings of immense gratitude, the Rev. Michael Pfleger began his homily on Sunday by thanking his parishioners, friends and staff a day after he was reinstated at service following a second abuse allegation that was deemed unfounded.
The start of Mass at the Auburn Gresham church began with Pfleger returning to the altar to booming up-tempo gospel music that called on parishioners to clap their hands and stomp their feet. “It’s good to be home,” Pfleger said to excited cheers.
Pfleger, 73, the longtime senior pastor of the city’s largest Black Catholic parish, thanked his friends within the church community and apologized to his flock because of the stress the allegations brought to the parish.
“When I’m attacked and you’re attacked, you have to go through this thing with me and I just thank you and apologize for the pain you had to go through, also,” he said during Mass broadcast live. “I thank you for standing by me and believing me ... that you know who I am after 47 years.”
On Saturday, the Archdiocese of Chicago reinstated Pfleger to ministerial duties following an investigation that began in mid-October. An unidentified man in his 40s, a former member of the acclaimed Soul Children of Chicago choir, alleged he was assaulted twice as a teen in the church rectory. Pfleger maintained his innocence but stepped away from the ministry during an investigation by an independent review board. St. Sabina’s parishioners quickly rallied to the priest’s defense.
“The Review Board has concluded that there is no reason to suspect Father Pfleger is guilty of these allegations, which I fully accept,” Cardinal Blase Cupich said in the letter.
It was the second time Pfleger had been reinstated to ministry after an allegation of sex abuse. In January 2021, two adult brothers made allegations against Pfleger, but he had returned by the summer after the archdiocese found “insufficient reason to suspect” him of wrongdoing. Pfleger is not facing criminal charges.
Following the second allegation, the Soul Children’s choir director Dr. Walter Whitman and his attorney publicly voiced their support for Pfleger. On Sunday, Pfleger personally thanked Whitman and others who stood with him throughout the ordeal. “I love you man. Thank you so much,” Pfleger said.
Pfleger also thanked supporters from across the country who sent cards, emails and texts of support and name-dropped luminaries who reached out to him after the allegations surfaced offering support, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, director Spike Lee, whose film “Chiraq” featured a character based on Pfleger, Bernice King and Harry Belafonte, among others.
During the investigation, Pfleger was required to live away from parish grounds. “People asked me ‘Do you need a place to stay? Do you need a place to live? Tell me where you’re at. Tell me what you need,’” Pfleger said.
A devotee to the teachings of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Pfleger’s popularity within his majority-Black parish, his political clout and his influential voice on crime, poverty and social inequality has led to his unprecedented run as pastor. Archdiocesan rules typically require priests transfer to different parishes.
The South Side parish is a fully functioning social service office in addition to offering religious services, job training, violence interruption, gun buybacks and community peace plans, and organizing food, clothing and holiday toy drives,.
Pfleger’s influence was on display in July 2018 when he helped convinced police officials to allow a small group of demonstrators to briefly block traffic on the Dan Ryan Expressway as a call to action on crime, joblessness and poverty plaguing city neighborhoods.
Pfleger used his homily to reaffirm his core values to fighting racism and restrictive systems and following a “radical Christ,” vowing to continue his work. “I’m used to threats and used to people hating on me. But I need you to understand: “You got the wrong one,” Pfleger said to howls.
“There’ve been times when I wanted to call it quits. To just leave. ‘You’re 73. What are you doing? Why are you working so hard?’” Pfleger said. “But until God tells me, I’m going to do what I’m called to do, and what I believe I was born to do,” he said.
“As long as I have breath, I’m going to continue to fight against hate and racism and guns and violence and systems that have continued to oppress people.”
______
