Cardinal suspends Pfleger: 'You are not able to pastor a Catholic parish'

[Dale_M]

Already his “followers” plan to picket the home of Cardinal George.

The turnout was estimated by both the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times to be in excess of 100 protesters. The police ordered the protesters to stay across the street from Cardinal George’s residence, which is where everyone assembled for the press conference. However, after that was done, one of the organizers urged everyone to cross the street to protest directly in front of the Cardinal’s home. The two cops on hand were unable to hold them back.
suntimes.com/news/5072203-418/st.-sabina-parishioners-head-to-cardinals-home-to-protest-pflegers-ouster

(Minor correction to the story: Tavis Smiley’s radio shows are independently produced and distributed by Public Radio International, which is a different network than NPR)

 

[irishpatrick]

Agreed.

I do not see triumphalism on this thread. The truth is a great many Catholics have gone through very difficult and painful times over the last 10 years, and many of them simply want Priests to start obeying the Church and the faith without complaint (the abuse crisis would never have happened had Priests been obedient to the faith–and many fallen away Catholics would still be in the Church).

Some Catholics might get a little exuberant when certain changes are made…yet can one really blame them after the painful times they/we have passed through?

I applaud Father Pfleger’s work because he really shook the tree and tried to make a difference–I just think most faithful Catholics wanted him to make a difference within the absolute fullness of the faith–it should not be either or…it should be both (make a difference AND do so within the faith).

 

[estesbob]

I do not see triumphalism on this thread. The truth is a great many Catholics have gone through very difficult and painful times over the last 10 years, and many of them simply want Priests to start obeying the Church and the faith without complaint (the abuse crisis would never have happened had Priests been obedient to the faith–and many fallen away Catholics would still be in the Church).

Some Catholics might get a little exuberant when certain changes are made…yet can one really blame them after the painful times they/we have passed through?

).

I hope

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO :extrahappy::extrahappy::extrahappy:

is charitable

It’s about time. Allowing him to pastor is like allowing Peewee Herman to pastor.

Three cheers for Cardinal George!!

 

[irishpatrick]

estesbob:
Celebrating what people see as a good move is NOT the same as triumpalism. Though, I will give you the “wooohoo” comment was.

 

[Te_Deum]

Regardless there is nothing wrong with Catholic triumphalism…

 

[irishpatrick]

Regardless there is nothing wrong with Catholic triumphalism…

I agree to a point…one should not celebrate the troubles of another.

 

[Michael_C]

I think the Cardinal handled it as best he could.

 

[Teelynn]

I do not see triumphalism on this thread. The truth is a great many Catholics have gone through very difficult and painful times over the last 10 years, and many of them simply want Priests to start obeying the Church and the faith without complaint (the abuse crisis would never have happened had Priests been obedient to the faith–and many fallen away Catholics would still be in the Church).

Some Catholics might get a little exuberant when certain changes are made…yet can one really blame them after the painful times they/we have passed through?

I applaud Father Pfleger’s work because he really shook the tree and tried to make a difference–I just think most faithful Catholics wanted him to make a difference within the absolute fullness of the faith–it should not be either or…it should be both (make a difference AND do so within the faith).

This is one of the most sensible posts of this entire thread. Yes, Fr. P has done remarkable things in Chicago, for which he is to be celebrated. HE HAS NOT, however, done them in a Catholic vein. When the means to an end is untruthful, how can the “end” be fruitful? He needs to get his “Catholicism” squared away because as much good as he has accomplished, he has also led people away from Catholic doctrine. Yes, he needs prayer. What he needs I do believe is “reversion” to Catholicism. He has taken a wrong turn in the road of which he needs not take the entire parish of St. Sabina with him. Hopefully it’s not too late.
Pray for him, pray for Cardinal George.

 

[irishpatrick]

This is one of the most sensible posts of this entire thread. Yes, Fr. P has done remarkable things in Chicago, for which he is to be celebrated. HE HAS NOT, however, done them in a Catholic vein. When the means to an end is untruthful, how can the “end” be fruitful? He needs to get his “Catholicism” squared away because as much good as he has accomplished, he has also led people away from Catholic doctrine. Yes, he needs prayer. What he needs I do believe is “reversion” to Catholicism. He has taken a wrong turn in the road of which he needs not take the entire parish of St. Sabina with him. Hopefully it’s not too late.
Pray for him, pray for Cardinal George.

Thank you for this response.

 

[Barbkw]

Wow, I hadn’t heard about this!

Surprise Surprise.

 

[He_Man]

I agree with you. The Triumphalism leaves me a bit sick to the stomach, too. After all, what is happening in Chicago isn’t a football game. There are no winners in this situation. It is a sad situation and should be treated as such.

The winners are the Catholics who won’t be subjected to Pfleger’s bad example in Mass. The Church needs less poor sheperds. Most people aren’t cheering against Pfleger, but cheering for a better example for Catholics in that parish.

 

[He_Man]

In his recent interview on the Smiley & West radio program, Fr. Pfleger stated a strong conviction that he is called to be a pastor of a community, which he would not be at Leo Catholic High School. Towards the conclusion of the interview, Fr. Pfleger made the statement that he would leave the Catholic Church if forced to go to Leo.

smileyandwest.com/transcripts/?page_id=102

So basically, his calling to be a leader is greater than his calling to be a Catholic, and an obedient Priest.

Make no mistake; if he loved the Catholic church as much as we are all supposed to, he go, even with disappointment wherever the Church sent him.

 

[ANNE_2]

I am impressed with the Cardinal’s letter, it was charitable and succinct and very well written. The only part that made my jaw drop open was the part about it being released to the parish and the media. Though considering that he is accused a releasing private mis-information to the media I guess it makes sense, in order to prevent him from spinning his suspension as anything other than it is.

Pfleger has been committing public heretical Scandals - heresy and schism are mortal sins.
Therefore public repentance is required.
The Cardinal did the correct thing in making it public. Actually Pfleger made his disobedience public first on a radio show. Basically, that we was leaving the Catholic Church if he did not get his own way.

 

[ANNE_2]

Let us remember that all of us are required to adhere to the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”. Pfleger is not exempt.

The CCC is the only catechism from the Magisterium.

Pfleger is not stupid. He is not Catholic by his own actions.

CCC - “1577 “Only a baptized man (vir) validly receives sacred ordination.”
The Lord Jesus chose men (viri) to form the college of the twelve apostles, and the apostles did the same when they chose collaborators to succeed them in their ministry.
The college of bishops, with whom the priests are united in the priesthood, makes the college of the twelve an ever-present and ever-active reality until Christ’s return.
The Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself. For this reason the ordination of women is not possible.”

Quite frankly since Pfleger has been allowed to do his own thing for so long, he has been making a laughing stock of the Cardinal and the Church.

Pray for the Cardinal to give him the strength he needs to do the right thing, and stop Pflegers scandals.

 

[Beau_Ouiville]

I live about 3 miles away from St. Sabina’s. I would never, never go there for “Mass”. It is seriously barely Mass. The parish nearest my house is also under this same umbrella of liberalism where multi-culturalism is more important than being faithful to the Church.

I’ve been there for Mass, as has the cardinal. There is preaching which differs in rhetorical style than in many other Catholic churches. To say ‘it is barely Mass’ is just wrong. I think it is outside of the ethnic traditions of some Catholics, that’s all.

My conclusion: he will be transferred - and the sooner, the better. Already his “followers” plan to picket the home of Cardinal George.

Excuse me - WHAT???

Well, I have not seen those reactions by critics when those opposing the shutdown of a church, parish or school picketed the cardinal.

So Father David put his own preferences aside and obediently made history.

Time for a little historical precedent: In the fifties and sixties, the most famous priest in the nation was Fulton Sheen. He had a TV show which received an Emmy and was constantly quoted in the media. Even my father like him.

At the height of his popularity, he was transferred out of NYC to Rochester, then a media desert. But he went. And kept his mouth shut.

A lot of younger folks here may not know of that incident. The transfer was widely believed to have been designed to reign in Bishop Sheen. But he went.

 

[catharina]

1. I’ve been there for Mass, as has the cardinal. There is preaching which differs in rhetorical style than in many other Catholic churches. To say ‘it is barely Mass’ is just wrong. I think it is outside of the ethnic traditions of some Catholics, that’s all.
2. Well, I have not seen those reactions by critics when those opposing the shutdown of a church, parish or school picketed the cardinal.
3. Time for a little historical precedent: In the fifties and sixties, the most famous priest in the nation was Fulton Sheen. He had a TV show which received an Emmy and was constantly quoted in the media. Even my father like him.

At the height of his popularity, he was transferred out of NYC to Rochester, then a media desert. But he went. And kept his mouth shut.

4.  A lot of younger folks here may not know of that incident.  The transfer was widely believed to have been designed to reign in Bishop Sheen.  But he went.

Beau, regarding the above:

1. Agree.
2. Objecting to a parish/school closure is worlds removed from objecting to a suspension. (I have no use for pickets of the Cardinal. It’s an American practice, not a Catholic practice.) Picketing because a pastor has been suspended is OUTRAGEOUS, IMO.
3. As should Fr. Pfleger.
4. I remember Bishop Sheen and his history quite well.

 

[Beau_Ouiville]

1. Objecting to a parish/school closure is worlds removed from objecting to a suspension. (I have no use for pickets of the Cardinal. It’s an American practice, not a Catholic practice.) Picketing because a pastor has been suspended is OUTRAGEOUS, IMO.

I’m not so sure. It is good to see active, involved Catholics.

Besides, the cardinal ain’t home. He’s in Rome.

 

[Tsuwano]

The winners are the Catholics who won’t be subjected to Pfleger’s bad example in Mass. The Church needs less poor sheperds. Most people aren’t cheering against Pfleger, but cheering for a better example for Catholics in that parish.

By most accounts, Fr. Pfleger was a wonderful pastor at St. Sabina’s. He was much loved by most of his parishioners for 30 odd years or so. It may be necessary for the Cardinal to suspend Fr. Pfleger, but this has less to do with his role as pastor than with his willingness to question the Cardinal’s authority in removing him from his post. As for Fr. Pfleger’s “bad example in Mass,” I’m not sure what you are talking about. What do you mean? What bad examples in the Mass are you refering to?

 

[catharina]

I’m not so sure. It is good to see active, involved Catholics.

Besides, the cardinal ain’t home. He’s in Rome.

In Rome, of course.
Silly me.
I’ve been in California for almost a dozen years. What do I know?

(I do know that it is very ungracious for folks to disrespect the authority of a bishop.)

 

[miniquedoes]

I am so thankful that the Cardinal has made this decision. Fr. Pleger many times can be a divisive individual. In many of his sermons he not only preaches non-Catholic teachings, he also makes it about us (the parishioners) vs them (the Church authorities). I went to the church’s website and thought I clicked on the wrong church. There is not one thing on the website that indicates it is a Catholic Church. For example the word “Mass” is replaced with “worship service.” There are audio/video sermons on the website in which one can clearly hear Fr. Pfleger preaching about women priest, relationship with Jesus as opposed to religion. These “worship services” do not resemble a Catholic Mass one bit. It is so sad

saintsabina.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35&Itemid=66

Please let us keep Cardinal George in prayer as he will be facing much persecution for his decision.