Saint Sabina leadership asks Cardinal to rescind Pfleger’s suspension
Charge it was based on words taken out of context
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By Chinta Strausberg
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More than 100 supporters of Saint Sabina’s Father Michael L. Pfleger held a rally/press conference outside of the home of Cardinal Francis George asking him to rescind the suspension because it was based on words that were “completely†taken out of context.
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But while the group was gathering outside of the Cardinal’s home, a police officer told them they couldn’t hold the press conference there because it was private property. When the group explained it was a press conference, the officer kept saying it was a protest and illegal but ultimately made them go across the street where he again tried to prevent the event from happening. When reporters began to challenge the policeman argument, he ended his attempts to disrupt the press conference.
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Vince Clark, the assistant to Father Pfleger, told reporters this same police officer told him when the press conference ends they were not to go back across the street by the Cardinal’s home because that is private property. That didn’t set well with Clark who has been trained in the science of civil rights by Pfleger. He told reporters that is one more instance of the “disrespect†the church has had to experience but would not tolerate. “It was a slap in the face,†said Clark.
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After the press conference, Clark let the group back across the street where they marched outside of the Cardinal’s home singing gospel songs like “God Is An Awesome God,†and “We Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Us Around.†But, they came with a clear purpose to ask the Cardinal to rescind his suspension of Father Pfleger they say was based on erroneous information.
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Saying that the basis of Pfleger’s suspension was predicated on an April 6, 2011 NPR interview with Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West, Isador Glover, Saint Sabina’s Parish Council leader, cited the Cardinal’s April 27th letter as their proof.
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The letter accused Pfleger of allegedly saying he “will leave the Catholic Church†if he had “to accept an assignment other than as pastor of Saint Sabina Parish. If that is truly your attitude,†the Cardinal wrote, “you have already left the Catholic Church and are therefore not able to pastor a Catholic parish.â€
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Glover said Pfleger’s words were taken out of context and presented reporters with the transcript of the NPR interview. “This was taken completely out of context and is untrue,†said Glover calling on the Cardinal to rescind his suspension of Pfleger.
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Glover said the transcript proves that Pfleger was not saying that he wanted to leave the Catholic Church. Glover explained “but if his (Pfleger’s) options are to become the president of Leo High School or to leave (the priesthood), he would be forced to look outside the church.â€
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“Consistently, Father Pfleger has stated that he wants to stay in the Catholic Church and he wants to pastor,†Glover told reporters. “Becoming the president of Leo High School does not present that opportunity nor does he feel qualified. He is not an educator, but he is ordained to be a priest. In an effort to obey the orders of the Cardinal, he suggested an alternative to this request.â€
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Glover, who was flanked by Rev. Dr. Kimberly Lymore, associate minister at Saint Sabina, said in Pfleger’s March 19th letter to the Cardinal Pfleger suggested, “Although this would be an enormous amount of work and commitment, I am willing to give this all that I have to see if it can work. Perhaps, under the name of Saint Sabina and with the new leadership and mission, it could survive and grow.â€
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Glover told reporters that Saint Sabina is the largest Catholic Church in the black community in the Chicago Archdiocese and that it “has been financially self-sufficient since 1989. In 2007, when our roof collapsed, we received no assistance from the Archdiocese…,†he said.
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Back then, the Archdiocese refused to give Saint Sabina “a dime,†and he church had to raise the $500,000 while still raising funds for their own budget.
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Glover said Saint Sabina has  “still managed to stay financially solvent.†Glover said the Archdiocese has not given Saint Sabina any money since 1989.
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Referring to Pfleger, Glover said, “We want his suspension lifted because he was suspended under false pretenses based on a misinterpretation that was taken out of context. Once again, the leadership of Saint Sabina is requesting a meeting with Cardinal George to discuss his letter, the succession plan, and the future of Saint Sabina Church.â€
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Lymore, who said the remarks made by Father Pfleger on he NPR was on April 6th and doesn’t have a “clue†why it is the issue of a suspension on April 27th, said “This has hit us like a ton of bricks, but we are not done and we are not lifeless.†While she wanted to hold the press conference in front of the Cardinal’s home before he left for Rome, the Cardinal was already gone.
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Giving the prayer was Rev. Will Hall, Protestant Chaplain at DePaul University.
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Ultimately, they are hoping that the suspension will be lifted and that when their succession plan has matriculated to its conclusion Father Magwaza is slated to take over Saint Sabina and since Father Pfleger is just six-years away from the mandatory age of 70 and since he must retire they want him to remain at the church and serve as Pastor Emeritus. She said he could work on special projects.
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Asked how is Father Pfleger taking the suspension, Lymore said he learned about the suspension during a 4:30 p.m. breaking newscast. “He feels disrespected. He’s hurt. He’s spent 36-years in church and to be treated like this is just unconscionable,†she said.
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The leadership of Saint Sabina has again requested a meeting with the Cardinal. “Being the largest African American Catholic Church in the Diocese we would hope that the Cardinal will bring us in. We are a group of people who stand up for what is right and our Pastor has taught us that he has really stepped out for us fighting for justice and he has taught us that truth will prevail and that is what we are stating here that truth will prevail,†Glover said.
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Asked if the church should be representing the people of Saint Sabina or the Cardinal, Glover said, “The church is just a structure. It depends on the individuals within the church and it depends on the leader of the church and when you have a great leader, it is very easy to follow someone who is really concerned about the community.
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“Church is not just within those four-walls,†Glover said. “Father Mike goes outside of the church…. He knows what’s happening.â€
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Glover said Pfleger has built up a community. “The Cardinal should be aware that someone is willing, like Father Pfleger, to commit himself to the community for all of these years.â€
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Asked what has been the impact on the church community by the suspension, Glover said, “It’s devastating. If the Cardinal has been listening to and reading some of the things the people in the community have to say, I really pray and hope that his heart is changed.â€
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No one was at the Cardinal’s home. The Cardinal is in Rome attending the beatification of Pope John Paul II. Father Pfleger was unavailable for comment.
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Ending the press conference with a prayer  before they marched on the home of the Cardinal , was Rev. Reginald Williams, Jr., First Baptist Church of University Park.
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Chinta Strausberg is a Journalist of more than 33-years, a former political reporter and a current PCC Network talk show host.
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