'Devastated' Pfleger Responds To Child Sexual Abuse Allegation

CHICAGO — Firebrand priest Father Michael Pfleger has been removed from ministerial duties following a sexual abuse allegation, Cardinal Blase Cupich announced Tuesday.

In a letter to parishioners at St. Sabina Parish, Cupich said the Chicago Archdiocese's Office for Child Abuse Investigation and Review received an allegation that Pfleger sexually abused a minor more than 40 years ago.

"Allegations are claims that have not been proven as true or false. Therefore, guilt or innocence should not be assumed," Cupich said. "Father Pfleger has agreed to cooperate fully with my request and will live away from the parish while this matter is investigated."

Cupich said the allegation was reported to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and the Cook County State’s Attorney's Office, as is required by church policy.

The archbishop said local church authorities take all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously and encouraged anyone who feels they have been abused by a priest, deacon or church employee to come forward and report it.

St. Sabina parishioners posted a statement defending Pfleger on the church website Tuesday night.

"We, the Cabinet of the Faith Community of St. Sabina, believes that these accusations are unfounded and we boldly stand behind the integrity, passion, work and ministry of our Sr. Pastor, Rev. Michael Pfleger," they said.

The group pledged to cooperate with the archdiocese investigation while continuing to support the longtime activist priest.

"We believe that our Sr. Pastor will be fully exonerated from all accusations, and we stand with him during this process as he has stood with victims of injustice and will continue to uplift his work and the life he has committed to serving others," they said. "We will fight for the legacy of work done by Rev. Michael Pfleger!"

Pfleger responded to the allegation Wednesday morning, saying he had received an outpouring of texts, calls and emails from across the country.

"I am devastated, hurt and yes angry, but I am first, a person of Faith, I Trust God," Pfleger said in a social media post.

"I have been asked by the Diocese not to speak out at this time," he said.

Pfleger asked for prayers for himself and the St. Sabina faith community, which he said had been blessed with good leadership and amazing members.

"Pray also for the person, my life is more than a 40 year old accusation," he said, "and on that and my Faith I will stand."

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Pfleger, 71, became the pastor of Saint Sabina parish in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood in 1981. In the subsequent four decades, his social activism and provocative public statements have made him no stranger to controversy, and his relationship has, at times, been strained with archdiocese leaders, who opposed his decision to adopt children.

In 2011, he was suspended from active ministry for three weeks after saying in an interview that he would rather leave the Catholic Church than leave his parish and take a job at the nearby Leo Catholic High School.

Read Cupich's full letter below: