Diocese Puts Father Pfleger On Leave
EmailFrancis Cardinal George, the Archbishop of Chicago, just issued the following statement about controversial Obama friend Father Michael Pfleger:
"To put recent events in some perspective, I have asked Father Michael Pfleger, Pastor of St. Sabina’s Parish, to step back from his obligations there and take leave for a couple of weeks from his pastoral duties, effective today. Fr. Pfleger does not believe this to be the right step at this time. While respecting his disagreement, I have nevertheless asked him to use this opportunity to reflect on his recent statements and actions in the light of the Church’s regulations for all Catholic priests. I hope that this period will also be a time away from the public spotlight and for rest and attention to family concerns.
"I hope also that the life of St. Sabina’s parish may continue in uninterrupted fashion. Fr. William Vanecko, Pastor of St. Kilian’s parish, will be temporary administrator of St. Sabina’s and will assure the full complement of ministerial services during this period. I ask the members of St. Sabina’s parish to cooperate with him and to keep him and Fr. Pfleger in their prayers. They are in mine."
- jpt
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Father Pfleger should never have been asked to go on leave. His comments are divisive notwithstanding but to go on leave, waoh thats too much. A warning would have been fine. Thats why we should never mix politics with religion.
Posted by: vuzous | June 3, 2008, 5:07 pm 5:07 pm
Now, if only his buddy Barack would be put on leave.
Posted by: A | June 3, 2008, 5:08 pm 5:08 pm
This should be a happy moment for Democrats. It is just the opposite. As I read this statement from Cardinal George and think aboute the vile and grotesque performance that provoked it, I am deeply saddened. Michael Pfleger has been a close friend of Obama’s for years. Obama has referred to him as his “moral compass.” I believe that Obama sincerely meant this. Just as he sincerely meant the praise he offered for Jeremiah Wright. That is the problem. I cannot support a candidate for president who clearly lacks a true moral compass. I think it highly likely that most Americans will reach the same conclusion.
A very sad day for the Democratic party and for America.
Posted by: DDay | June 3, 2008, 5:12 pm 5:12 pm
Obama’s moral compass Pfleger was put on leave. Still, the fact that Obama acknowledged he was his moral compass explains why the puppet has the morals he has. Nothing is sacred to this man. Nothing!
Posted by: S | June 3, 2008, 5:16 pm 5:16 pm
I hear it often that we should never mix politics and religion. But that is impossible for this reason: Each person makes decision based on a moral filter of right and wrong. This filter is always on; at work, at home, at play, at church. It guides a person to be honest or to lie; to be kind or rude; to be humble or arrogant. It’s always on, even though it’s not always a conscious decision. So yes, character/religious choice does count. Always.
Posted by: Dan | June 3, 2008, 5:20 pm 5:20 pm
Well the children should be safer. LOL
Posted by: tomjoad1776 | June 3, 2008, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm
Okay so who in the hell is the Clintons moral compass? CLEARLY who or whatever it is needs to be put to rest also. Last I remember thou shall not kill was a biggie. (not to mention um, adultery) I’ve never heard or seen the Obama body count. PLEASE elaborate. Got any names… I’m not the only person who is dying to hear this…
Posted by: pity | June 3, 2008, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm
No real Christian would have said and done what Father Pfleger did. Jesus said love your enemies and love your neighbor. Apparently this message of love was lost on Father Pfleger and the Trinity church members hooting and hollering and applauding behind him. Those words, sights and sounds will likely not be lost on the vast majority of the American electorate come November. In 2004 approximately 121 million people voted in the presidential election. Senator Obama has collected about 18 million votes to date in the primaries. There are a lot of people out there still to be convinced by Senator Obama. And please don’t tell me I don’t understand the African-American church. I know hate when I see it. It looks the same in a church as it does at a rally.
Posted by: Former Democrat | June 3, 2008, 5:25 pm 5:25 pm
Hmmm, this seems like an odd entry for a political blog. Are there any political ramifications of this decision? Are you trying to create some? :)
Posted by: Nobodys fool | June 3, 2008, 5:29 pm 5:29 pm
That bigot should have been fired a LONG time ago!
Posted by: Cory | June 3, 2008, 5:34 pm 5:34 pm
Foremer Democrat: You are so right-on. Thanks.
Posted by: Frustrated Voter | June 3, 2008, 5:35 pm 5:35 pm
Hillary’s pastor for years is a convicted child molester. Why has that never come into question by the media or any of self righteous posters here?
Here comes the bias justification!!!
Posted by: never equal | June 3, 2008, 5:38 pm 5:38 pm
What’s Obama gonna do with his compass… spin around in circles?
Posted by: Gary | June 3, 2008, 5:43 pm 5:43 pm
Two weeks leave to be followed by what? My guess is a sabbatical and then a reassignment. Have we enough of a paper trail for a full defrocking? I also wonder how St. Sabina’s will react to an actual Catholic priest running the show. Evan Murphy is so right when he mentions humility. So necessary for a Christian. So lacking in Pfleger.
Posted by: ktrush | June 3, 2008, 5:46 pm 5:46 pm
Because if we don’t mention it. The Media and Former Democrats like you, in your piety, will ignore it and keep associating what other people say to Obama. (whats good for goose….)
Posted by: never equal | June 3, 2008, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm
By the way I think Fr. Pfleger is horrendous and got less than what he deserves
Posted by: never equal | June 3, 2008, 5:54 pm 5:54 pm
“Obama has referred to him as his “moral compass.” I believe that Obama sincerely meant this.”
I believe he did too. But not in a good way. I pray to God I never have a moral compass such as Obama has.
Posted by: Artie Curtis | June 3, 2008, 6:03 pm 6:03 pm
To call Father Pflegers comments sexist tells me that this word is way on its way to being overused. Mocking, perhaps, but not sexist.
Posted by: Dani girl | June 3, 2008, 6:16 pm 6:16 pm
Obama keeps trying to run from his own radicalism, and it finally caught up with him in the form of Pleger’s ugly comments about Senator Clinton. Even given the horrendous treatment of both Senator Clinton and President Clinton by Obama supporters and the mainstream press, I would still be willing to vote for Obama if Clinton is on the ticket as VP. But if Clinton is not offered the VP, well, it will show me that all Obama’s talk about being the great uniter and so forth was simply sham, jive. If Senator Clinton is not on the democratic ticket either as president or vice president, my vote goes to McCain. I would not tolerate a snub of this magnitude.
Posted by: June | June 3, 2008, 6:24 pm 6:24 pm
vuzous, I can’t tell if that’s sarcasm. Pflegmer should have been fired years ago; as for this week he should be sent to an extended period of forced psychological evaluation.
He is not a well man.
Posted by: Knuckles | June 3, 2008, 6:47 pm 6:47 pm
“…so he can rest and pay attention to family concerns…” Huh? What family concerns, he is a priest..and even though I don’t think you can “fire” a priest, he certainly should be permanently removed for preaching his racist and hatred for so many years.
Posted by: Sue | June 3, 2008, 8:55 pm 8:55 pm
“Hillary’s pastor for years is a convicted child molester. Why has that never come into question by the media or any of self righteous posters here?
Here comes the bias justification!!!”
Gary.. I want to help you understand… I’m no Hilary fan, I’m Canadian.. Here is the difference.. Hilary’s preacher did not stand in the pulpit every Sunday, and scream out that he was a child molester… On the other hand Obama’s spiritual mentors, and moral compasses DID spew their bigotry for 20 years and Obama saw it, heard it, and finally lied about it. He sat there for 20 years and accepted the hate, racism, and bigotry.. That is the difference.
Posted by: du | June 3, 2008, 9:35 pm 9:35 pm
“Hillary’s pastor for years is a convicted child molester. Why has that never come into question by the media or any of self righteous posters here?
Here comes the bias justification!!!”
Gary.. I want to help you understand… I’m no Hilary fan, I’m Canadian.. Here is the difference.. Hilary’s preacher did not stand in the pulpit every Sunday, and scream out that he was a child molester… On the other hand Obama’s spiritual mentors, and moral compasses DID spew their bigotry for 20 years and Obama saw it, heard it, and finally lied about it. He sat there for 20 years and accepted the hate, racism, and bigotry.. That is the difference.
Posted by: du | June 3, 2008, 9:37 pm 9:37 pm