CHICAGO (AP) — An activist Catholic priest who made headlines when he mocked Hillary Clinton during her presidential campaign was suspended by the Archdiocese of Chicago on Wednesday because of a disagreement over a proposed transfer from his South Side church.
The Rev. Michael Pfleger has said recently he would
leave the church rather than be removed from St. Sabina Church, where he has
been pastor for more than 30 years. Cardinal Francis George earlier this year
offered Pfleger the presidency of a Catholic high school near the church.
"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.
The cardinal said that while he has been suspended
from his priestly duties, Pfleger retains the office of pastor while
temporarily without permission to function.
George asks Pfleger to pray over his priestly
commitments "in order to come to mutual agreement on how you understand
personally the obligations that make you a member of the Chicago presbyterate
and of the Catholic Church."
Telephone calls to Pfleger for comment on the
archdiocese's action were not immediately returned.
Archdiocese spokeswoman Susan Burritt said no
further information would be released.
"No one from the archdiocese is speaking about
this," she said.
Pfleger has gained national attention for his
protests on everything from gun violence to drug paraphernalia to Jerry
Springer's television show, and he has often appeared with major civil rights
leaders.
Pfleger, who is white and runs a largely black
parish, also has made racial equality a large part of his mission. He often
wears African-style robes during services, and a mural of a black Jesus is
behind the altar. Both his adopted sons are black.
It has long appeared he has had a strained
relationship with the Chicago Archdiocese, which opposed his decision to adopt
children. However, in his letter, George said he has consistently supported
Pfleger's work for social justice and admired his passion for ministry.
"Many love and admire you because of your
dedication to your people," the cardinal wrote, adding he regretted his
public remarks brought him to a moment of crisis that he hopes will quickly
pass.
Pfleger's public comments have gotten him in
trouble before. In 2008, he was suspended for nearly two weeks after mocking
then-Sen. Clinton during her presidential run. Pfleger, who was preaching from
the pulpit of President Barack Obama's former Chicago church, pretended he was
Clinton crying over "a black man stealing my show." He later
apologized.
The latest disagreement stemmed from reports the
archdiocese has wanted to transfer Pfleger to a high school. In the letter,
George said Pfleger often said he didn't want to remain at St. Sabina Parish
for the length of his ministry, adding it was difficult to find another
assignment that would make good use of his talents.
The cardinal said the post at the high school would
keep Pfleger in the neighborhood and among the people he has dedicated his life
to.
George said even as discussions about the transfer
were going on, they were being misrepresented as an attempt to remove Pfleger
from St. Sabina. He pointed out only priests found to have sexually abused a
minor or are guilty of financial malfeasance are removed from a parish. In other
cases they are reassigned according to policies in place for forty years.
"This conflict is not between you and me; it's
between you and the Church that ordained you a priest, between you and the
faith that introduced you to Christ and given you the right to preach and
pastor in his name," George wrote, adding it would be his choice to leave
the priesthood. "You are not a victim of anyone or anything other than
your own statements."
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
