Michael Pfleger: Iconic Chicago priest steps down after second assault allegation emerges
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: An anti-violence activist priest in Chicago, who was formerly in the news for his ties with former president Barack Obama, is currently being looked into for an incidence of sexual assault involving a minor. Father Michael Pfleger of the Archdiocese of Chicago has been relieved of his duties at the parish after being accused of a second sexual assault claim this year.
Pfleger, 73, will be the subject of an investigation, according to the Archdiocese of Chicago. The alleged incident of sexual abuse of a minor is believed to have occurred more than 30 years ago. "Father Pfleger has been asked to step aside from ministry and live away from the parish while the allegation is investigated. He has agreed to cooperate fully with this request," Archbishop of Chicago Cardinal Blase J Cupich said on Saturday, October 15, after Law enforcement officers and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services received the complaint against the priest, Fox News reported.
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Pfleger is not unfamiliar when it comes to controversies. At a Chicago NRA protest organized by the Rev Jesse Jackson, he once drew criticism for making a threat to "snuff out" the owner of a gun store with a federal license. Moreover, the Catholic priest came under fire for standing up for Louis Farrakhan, an anti-Semite, and Rev Jeremiah Wright, Obama's own pastor who was notorious for his divisive sermons following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Obama has since pushed to disassociate himself from both Wright and Pfleger.
In response to Facebook's decision to remove Farrakhan from its services over suspected hate speech, Pfleger asked the Nation of Islam leader to speak at St Sabina Church in 2019. However, Farrakhan made derogatory remarks regarding the Jewish community while speaking at the pulpit, for which the archbishop of Chicago later issued an apology. Pfleger attacked Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate for president who was running against then-Sen. Obama in 2008, saying she broke down in tears prior to the New Hampshire primary because she felt "there's a Black man stealing my show." Pfleger apparently received a two-week suspension for his comments and then expressed regret. Father Thulani Magwaza has been appointed to serve as administrator and take care of the needs of the St Sabina parish and school community upon his return from a family visit in early November, the Archdiocese of Chicago announced.
In the meantime, Father David Jones will take over as interim administrator. "The welfare of the children entrusted to our care remains our priority," the Archdiocese statement read. In January 2021, a new allegation against Pfleger surfaced. In that case, two brothers in their 60s claimed Pfleger sexually assaulted them for years in the 1970s, according to FOX 32 Chicago. Activist and civil rights pioneer Pfleger is well-known in the Chicago community, according to the portal. A dispute over Pfleger's transfer to a different parish resulted in his suspension in 2011. The Windy City's independent TV station WGN reported that he had been the priest of St Sabina Catholic Church since 1981.