A priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago has stepped aside from active ministry as the archdiocese investigates an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor, Cardinal Blase Cupich announced in a statement published July 11.
“I write to share some difficult news about your senior pastor, Fr Michael Pfleger. The Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office for Child Abuse Investigations and Review has received an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor against Fr Pfleger,” said Cardinal Cupich in the statement.
The alleged abuse is said to have occurred more than 30 years ago at St Sabina, the parish where Fr Pfleger, 77, has served since 1981. He is currently listed as the “senior pastor” on the parish’s website. St Sabina, also known as “The Faith Community of Saint Sabina”, is a predominantly Black parish in Chicago known for its social and community outreach programmes.
“In keeping with our child protection policies, I have asked Fr Pfleger to step aside from ministry and live away from the parish while the allegation is investigated,” said Cardinal Cupich, who added that Fr Pfleger “strongly denied the allegation”.
This latest allegation marks the fifth time since 2021 that Fr Pfleger has been accused of sexual misconduct involving a minor. The previous four allegations were investigated and found to be unsubstantiated.
In a statement released on the St Sabina website, Fr Pfleger described the allegation as “an absolute lie” and said it was politically motivated.
“For the 51 years of my ministry I have been threatened, slandered and attacked,” he said. “I was suspended twice because of my calling out of racism and suspended for unfounded accusations.”
This newest allegation, he believes, “is another attempt and another attack by those who have sought to destroy me for years.”
Fr Pfleger said his background had been investigated from high school through his years in ministry, and that “all accusations were determined to be unfounded”.
The priest added that he receives “weekly hate calls and emails because of what I fight for and believe”.
“I have been under constant attack by the present administration which I have vocally condemned as unlawful, racist and wicked. For this I will not apologise,” he said.
Fr Pfleger criticised the policies governing priests accused of abuse, under which they are removed from active ministry and asked to remain silent while allegations are investigated.
“But at this point, I will no longer be quiet,” he said. “I have no memory of this girl nor do countless others who have been at St Sabina for those years. The statement she has supposedly made is absolutely not true, and the facts will show that this is just an attempt by someone who is either being unfairly manipulated by others to hurt my reputation, or who is simply trying to make money by making false accusations.”
