Cardinal Asks Controversial Priest Pfleger to Take Leave of Absence

CHICAGO _ Cardinal Francis George on Tuesday asked Rev. Michael Pfleger, the embattled pastor of St. Sabina Catholic Church, to take a temporary leave of absence and contemplate his controversial remarks from the pulpit that surfaced on the Internet this past week.

“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,” George said in a statement.

“Fr. Pfleger does not believe this to be the right step at this time,” he continued. “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.”

Pfleger made headlines with a May 25 guest sermon at Trinity United Church of Christ in which the priest mocked Sen. Hillary Clinton and suggested that the former first lady is a white elitist who felt entitled to the Democratic nomination for president.

His remarks reignited a debate about Sen Barack Obama’s longtime church that had nearly quieted down after controversial remarks by now-retired Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. made the rounds earlier this spring. Obama worshiped for more than 20 years at Trinity before terminating his membership over the weekend.

In a previous statement the cardinal said Pfleger had promised not to publicly mention any candidate by name this summer and fall and that he would abide by the “discipline common to all Catholic priests.”

On Monday, Pfleger went on the defensive again, issuing a statement saying that his tongue slipped when he said in the May 25 sermon that “America is the greatest sin against God.” The activist and priest said he meant to say racism was the greatest sin.

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