Administrator of Father Pfleger’s parish lauds ‘deeply hurt’ priest
May 02, 2011
Father Thulani Magwaza, whom Cardinal Francis George named administrator of St. Sabina Parish in Chicago after suspending Father Michael Pfleger, offered strong praise for the controversial priest during a three-hour May 1 Mass.
“Thank you, Father Mike, for your vision,” said Father Magwaza to the cheers of the parishioners in attendance. “Thank you, Father Mike, for your love. Thank you, Father Mike, for all you do for our young people.” Father Pfleger watched the Mass from the sacristy.
Father Pfleger is “wounded by what happened,” said Vince Clark, Father Pfleger’s assistant. “He’s deeply hurt and feels a lack of respect … He was bothered by the fact that he could not fully participate as he wanted to.”
Cardinal George suspended Father Pfleger after the priest said he would rather leave the Church than accept a position as a high school principal.
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Further information:
- Pfleger watches Sunday Mass from background (Chicago Tribune)
- Father Pfleger's supporters protest suspension (CWN, 4/29)
- Cardinal George suspends Father Pfleger (CWN, 4/28)
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Posted by: Obregon -
May. 02, 2011 10:38 PM ET USA
Well, if I were Cardinal George, Father Thulani Magwaza would be dismissed together with the deeply hurt Pfleger!
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Posted by: -
May. 02, 2011 9:23 PM ET USA
Three hours??!!! It must have been a traditional solemn high sung Mass with swinging censors sparging of the congregation and vesting at the altar and concelebrants and procession of the Sacrament and, and ... Ya tink? What do you suppose went on for three hours? Yeah, me too.
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Posted by: unum -
May. 02, 2011 9:04 PM ET USA
Which Church do the clergy belong to? It bears little resemblance to the one that Christ gave us. You know, the one with love, obedience, and things like that.
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Posted by: Chestertonian -
May. 02, 2011 9:01 PM ET USA
One more thought: Fr Magwaza needs to go the same route if he thinks Pfleger did a good job. The good cardinal is much too tolerant and patient, and these fruitloops are takiong advantage of him. (And my apologies to the cereal of the same name.)
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Posted by: Chestertonian -
May. 02, 2011 8:58 PM ET USA
Concur with Hal; in fact, I can't think of any suitable role for this whiner. We need quality priests far more than we need quantity. Good riddance until and unless Pfleger can learn both humility and obedience to Church teaching. Until then, he is a hindrance to catechizing.
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Posted by: Gregory108 -
May. 02, 2011 7:49 PM ET USA
Couldn't the Cardinal have found an administrator who obeys and supports the Cardinal and acts for the good of both the Church and the church, and wants to bring peace and agreement to and reconciliation of St. Sabina to the Church? Why did he seem to pick the president of the Fr. Flegher Fan Club as administrator? Is Chicago that short of priests? And a high school principal? Of a Catholic high school? Where parents pay money for their kids' Catholic education? Or of Louis Farrakhan High?
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Posted by: -
May. 02, 2011 6:59 PM ET USA
Not mentioned in all of this is the simple matter of integrity. And truth. But, I guess it is supposed to be all about feelings?
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Posted by: Hal -
May. 02, 2011 9:47 AM ET USA
Under what circumstances would one think it good idea to put this guy in charge of teenagers? Really, I'm flummoxed.
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Posted by: Saint Jimbob of the Apokalypse -
May. 02, 2011 9:24 AM ET USA
I hope they managed to shoehorn a mention of the Divine Mercy into their Mass, rather than spending the whole time praising Fr. Pfleger. The more I read about parishioners' comments, the more I smell a personality cult.
