Outside Archdiocese Offices, Saint Sabina Parishioners Call For End To Michael Pfleger Sex Abuse Probe

GOLD COAST — One month after Father Michael Pfleger was removed from his position at Saint Sabina Church following allegations of sexual abuse, supporters gathered Wednesday to demand the Archdiocese of Chicago “stop playing with people’s lives” and reinstate the senior pastor. 

Chants of “Restore Father Mike” echoed Downtown on Wednesday as dozens stood outside the steps of the Archdiocese of Chicago headquarters, 835 N. Rush St., in support of Pfleger. 

The senior pastor — who has led Auburn Gresham’s Saint Sabina Church for over 40 years — announced in early July that he was being investigated for an accusation of sexual abuse against a girl when she was a student at the parish school between 1993-95.

The Archdiocese of Chicago asked Pfleger to step aside from his role at the parish and live off campus as the investigation unfolded, Cardinal Blase Cupich previously wrote in a letter to parishioners.

Following his removal from leadership, Pfleger called the accusation an “absolute lie” and a public attack to quell his social and political advocacy.

In a statement posted to Facebook July 13, Pfleger said he would not “sit by and watch my life, ministry, nor the church I love be slandered.”

“I want you to know that I do not intend to let this drag on and drain this church family,” the statement continued. “If it is not over very soon, I will make a decision.”

Days later, parishioners gathered at Saint Sabina, 1210 W. 78th Place, to “get our pastor back” and request the Archdiocese reform its investigation policy to “preserve the dignity and rights of both the accuser and the accused.” The public announcement and removal of a priest prior to an investigation is “unjust and unnecessary,” Felicia Chase, vice chairperson of the Parish Council at Saint Sabina, said at the time. 

Despite the public outcry, the Archdiocese has yet to reinstate Pfleger, said Cory Williams, Pfleger’s executive assistant. Pfleger’s prolonged absence is causing “irreparable damage” to both the Saint Sabina community and the senior pastor, Williams said.

The Archdiocese began its investigation into the allegations of sexual abuse in early July, which included visiting Saint Sabina and conducting interviews with current and former employees and “the accuser and the accused,” Williams said. 

Church leadership was “assured” by the Archdiocese that the investigation — including all interviews — was concluded by July 23, Williams said. 

The Independent Review Board, which advises Cardinal Cupich on allegations of sexual abuse, met on Aug. 10, but it pushed making a decision to the following meeting on Saturday, Williams said. When Saturday came, the decision was again delayed. The Review Board will now meet on Monday and potentially reach its decision, Williams said. 

“Within 24 hours [of the investigation concluding], the Review Board should have received the information the Archdiocese collected and disseminated to make their assessment,” Williams said. 

The investigation has been “emotionally tumultuous” for Pfleger, said Williams, who has been in contact with the senior pastor.  

Every time the Review Board meets, Pfleger has “experienced a joy believing he’ll be back, only to be let down because they have not come to a conclusion,” Williams said. 

“He is a human being at the end of the day,” Williams said. “This is what he loves to do — be in ministry, serve God’s people — and it’s very difficult for him to be away. Overall, he’s trying to remain encouraged and hopeful, and really looks forward to the day where he can get back to his ministry.” 

In a statement to Block Club, the Archdiocese of Chicago said all allegations are taken seriously and the Review Board “operates independently.” An announcement will follow once a decision has been made, according to the statement.

“No one in the church should think they are entitled to special treatment because of their position, especially in the matter of keeping children safe,” the Archdiocese of Chicago said in a statement to Block Club. “Staying true to our independent review process is the right thing to do and we will not be pressured into giving special treatment to anyone.” 

Tina Hammond has been a parishioner at Saint Sabina for over a decade, she said. On Wednesday, she joined her fellow congregants in wearing “We Stand With Father Pfleger” shirts, written in red, green and yellow. 

Parishioners at Saint Sabina love and care about Pfleger, Hammond said. His absence from the church the past month has been “sad,” she said. 

“Father Mike has done so much for, not just the Auburn Gresham community, but the city as a whole,” Hammond said. “From feeding the homeless to giving things out and helping kids go to college, you name it, Saint Sabina has done it.” 

Pfleger’s latest removal from the church “feels targeted, unjust and unfair,” Hammond said. The senior pastor has been vocal in his advocacy for the LGBTQ community, injustices in the city and the world, Hammond said. 

If and when Pfleger is reinstated at Saint Sabina, Hammond is hopeful the Archdiocese will alter its policy and not “judge before you investigate,” she said. 

Pfleger has faced four previous accusations of sexual abuse during his time at Saint Sabina.

Pfleger faced child sexual abuse allegations in January 2021 when two brothers came forward saying he groomed and sexually abused them for years, beginning when they were around 12 and 13. In March of that year, a third man accused the church leader of abusing him in the ‘70s when the man was 18. 

Pfleger was reinstated after the previous allegations were investigated, with the archdiocese finding no evidence of wrongdoing. He returned to the pulpit in 2021 to a crowd of supporters.

In October 2022, Pfleger was again temporarily removed from his role as investigators looked into a claim the pastor sexually abused a boy while he was a minor more than 30 years ago. He was reinstated after the conclusion of that investigation.

Much like Pfleger, Williams said he has also experienced “highs and lows” during the investigation process. Williams has known Pfelger for over 40 years and “believes in him completely,” he said.

“I don’t believe that there’s any validity to the accusation,” Williams said. “I haven’t seen anything in his character to have ever suggested anything like that.”