Pfleger returns to mass after suspension: ‘The greatest gift’
BY MARY HOULIHAN Staff Reporter/mhoulihan@suntimes.com May 22, 2011 1:34PM
Pastor, Fr. Michael Pfleger has been reinstated to full sacramental and pastoral ministry at the Faith Community of St. Sabina and in the Archdiocese of Chicago. On Sunday, May 22, 2011 Fr. Pfleger celebrates his birthday and celebrates the 11:15am Worship Service. A worshiper prays as Fr. Pfleger speaks during the mass. l Keith Hale~Sun-Times
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Updated: August 28, 2011 12:22AM
Joy and happiness permeated St. Sabina Church as the Rev. Michael Pfleger returned to his ministerial duties at a late Sunday morning mass.
Before his hourlong sermon titled “What Every Survivor Should Know,” Pfleger told the congregation that he had apologized to Cardinal Francis George for the remarks that got him suspended in April.
“I told him that I’m sorry if in any way my words left any possibility of being interpreted that I was giving a threat,” Pfleger said. “And I apologized for my choice of words.”
George reinstated Pfleger on Friday after suspending him on April 27 for telling radio host Tavis Smiley on a program broadcast on public radio that he would have to “look outside of the church,” if George reassigned him to become president of Leo High School.
Pfleger, who also was celebrating his 62nd birthday Sunday, said the best gift was being allowed to preside over services after his three- week suspension. “The greatest gift of all is to be here this morning with you,” Pfleger told parishioners, who gave him a standing ovation.
Church members were happy to have Pfleger back where they think he belongs. “It was great. He spoke his mind and his heart,” said Neila Adams, referring to Pfleger’s sermon. “It was real.”
Rochelle Crump added: “He is my choice of a pastor, and I’m grateful of the cardinal’s decision to have him return. Now it’s time to move forward.”
In a letter to Pfleger in April, George said his public remarks that he would leave the Catholic Church rather than accept a position outside of St. Sabina led to his decision. “If that is truly your attitude, you have already left the Catholic Church and are therefore not able to pastor a Catholic parish,” George wrote. But on Friday, in another letter, George said Pfleger took a “genuine step toward healing the hurt.”
On Sunday, Pfleger thanked George for giving him “the support and for our conversations.”
“I love being a Catholic priest and I love being in the church,” Pfleger said. “I come back committed to God, to the church and the prophetic tradition.”
George and Pfleger recently met and they agreed to “move toward creating a plan of transition for the future of St. Sabina.” Pfleger said he will present a transition plan to the cardinal by Dec. 1.
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