Cleared of sex abuse claim, Pfleger blasts ‘unjust’ archdiocese probe

In his first public comments since being reinstated at St. Sabina Catholic Church following a decades-old, unfounded sex abuse claim, the Rev. Michael Pfleger stood flanked by dozens of supporters outside the church Wednesday with a promise to “turn the volume up” on everything from pressing social justice issues to how accusations against priests are investigated.

“This accusation and others will follow me to the end of my life; in my obituary, they’ll be talking about these accusations,” Pfleger said. “But what I do know is this: The God that holds me and the faith community of St. Sabina, who’s known me for 51 years, they know Mike Pfleger.”

In July, Pfleger was accused of sexually abusing a girl who was a student at St. Sabina between 1993 and 1995. It was the fifth similar accusation against Pfleger within five years. He staunchly denied the most recent accusation as the archdiocese’s Independent Review Board investigated.

The archdiocese said the investigation concluded, “There is no reason to believe Father Pfleger is guilty of this allegation.”

Pfleger blasted the archdiocese’s investigation process, calling it “unjust.”

“The policy of the archdiocese sends a message that an accusation can punish somebody, whether you’re guilty or innocent,” Pfleger said. “The policy makes no room for the accused to be taken seriously or receive justice.”

“I, nor any priest, should be thrown under the bus by the very archdiocese I have given 51 years of my life serving,” Pfleger added.

In a previously released statement, Cardinal Blase Cupich said, “I want to recognize the suffering you and Father Mike have endured, for I know his absence has been real and painful. But I ask you to allow God’s Word this weekend to free you from any sadness and disappointment.”

James Figliulo, Pfleger’s attorney, called on the archdiocese and city officials to designate a day celebrating St. Sabina.

“[There is] no legacy of sexual abuse and unfair allegations, the legacy of St. Sabina’s is moral courage … to show respect when there’s disrespect,” Figliulo said.

Alba Gonzalez and Barbara Morgan, two devout supporters of Pfleger, said the community went through the hardships with Pfleger “together as a family.”

“This is not the first time,” said Morgan, a member of the church since 1991. “The truth always makes room for itself. No one ever has to defend the truth.”

Supporters are calling on the archdiocese to publicly apologize to Pfleger over the investigation’s process, which included Pfleger being removed from his position as priest at the church.

“They need to publicly apologize to [Pfleger] and to us for what they put us through,” Gonzalez said.

While they couldn’t get into specific details about the accusation, Figliulo and Pfleger described it as “an open-and-shut case that should’ve taken two weeks but took six instead.”

“This is not just about my accusation being proven false,” Pfleger said. “I am not going to stop fighting until this process is changed.

“We can still protect children and provide a fair process for the priests.”

Contributing: Mary Norkol