St. Sabina church leaders want the Rev. Michael Pfleger to remain pastor at the South Side parish.
Cardinal Francis George had dinner with the Rev.
Michael Pfleger Friday to discuss the possibility of Pfleger’s departure
from St. Sabina, where the popular, sometimes controversial pastor, has
served for 30 years, a source told the Chicago Sun-Times.
The source, who asked to remain anonymous, said
“several options” for Pfleger’s post-St. Sabina future were discussed.
But “no offer was proffered,” the source said.
On Thursday, church leaders issued a statement asking the Archdiocese of Chicago to halt plans to remove Pfleger.
“Considering the current state of the economy we
believe that removing him at this time would be devastating to both our
parish and the Auburn Gresham community. We also know that it is Father
Pfleger’s desire to remain as pastor of Saint Sabina. Further, we feel
that as leadership we should be granted the respect of being involved in
any process of succession planning for the future or our parish.”
On Monday, WBBM-Channel 2 cited unnamed sources in
reporting that Cardinal George asked Pfleger to take over struggling Leo
High School.
Pfleger told the station he could “neither confirm
nor deny [the request] at this point.” He did say, however, he was “in
discussions with the Archdiocese but you know those are private
conversations at this point and I can’t comment at this point about
those conversations.”
Pfleger has been at St. Sabina, 1210 W. 78th,
since 1981 — a tenure longer than Archdiocesan priests are typically
permitted to stay in one parish.
Chicago Catholic Schools Supt. Sister Mary Paul
McCaughey said in a statement Wednesday that any conversations that
Pfleger “may or may not” have had with Cardinal George are a private
personnel matter.
Pfleger did not return several calls seeking comment.
A
church spokesman said the pastor would release a statement on Thursday.
WBBM-Channel 2 showed a video of Pfleger at last
Sunday’s mass, saying, “I love being your pastor and I love being your
shepherd, but you’re looking at a man [who] made a choice [to] hold onto
God, wherever God takes me.”
Leo High School, 7901 S. Sangamon, is just a few
blocks from St. Sabina and has experienced declining enrollment and an
uncertain future.
But Catholic schools spokesman Ryan Blackburn said Leo
High’s enrollment and financial picture is improving — and is expected
to remain stable for the next school year — under current president Dan
McGrath.
Pfleger, a white Chicago native, has become
nationally famous for his success at building the predominantly black
Catholic parish.
McGrath said he respects Pfleger and admires his long service to the church and surrounding community.
“We have a good relationship with him and admire
what he did in this neighborhood,”
McGrath said. “Look down 79th Street
and all redevelopment you see is attributable to him. He’s a great
neighbor.”