Chicago Cardinal Thankfully Grows Some Backbone

Cardinal Francis George and his predecessor the late Joseph Cardinal Bernadin have for years let Father Pfleger run rampant through his little world at St Sabina Church afraid that disciplining him for many of his outspoken and out of place antics would scare away and or anger his dedicated flock from the Catholic church, and as a catholic myself I would venture to guess it was sadly a monetary decision as much as a principled religious one.

But finally he crossed the line and the cardinal had to do something with the flamboyant and obnoxious Priest after his latest rant directed at Hillary Clinton turned into international scandal and YouTube fodder.

He's an out of control, egotistical man who actually drives around this town in a car with vanity license plates if you can believe that one, although I am unable to provide proof of the the content of the plates, I know for a fact from local news reports of late and past that they actually exist and have been a problem with the church as well that they were afraid to confront him over..

As a once again embarrassed Catholic I do have to admit the man has done a lot of good in addition to his sometimes clownish act in his parish and neighborhood over the years, but for a catholic priest and a man of the cloth he is more like a male version of the Nun character played by Whoopie Goldberg in Sister Act than a priest should be, particularly in these trying times for a damaged U.S. catholic church that needs less scandal and more Godly teachings of old in it's churches and their pews.

Priest who mocked Clinton told to take a leave:

My Way News - "CHICAGO (AP) - Cardinal Francis George asked a Chicago priest on Tuesday to temporarily step down from his post to 'reflect on his recent statements' regarding Sen. Hillary Clinton and her bid for the White House.

Last week, the Rev. Michael Pfleger mocked Clinton at Sen. Barack Obama's former church, saying the New York senator felt 'entitled' to the Democratic nomination for president.

In a guest sermon at Trinity United Church of Christ, Pfleger pretended he was Clinton crying over 'a black man stealing my show.'"Pfleger's sermon, along with past controversial statements by Trinity's former longtime pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, led Obama to resign his membership at Trinity. Pfleger apologized for his comments Sunday.

George asked Pfleger to take leave from pastoral duties at St. Sabina Church in order to "reflect on his recent statements and actions in the light of the church's regulations for all Catholic priests," according to a statement Tuesday from the Archdiocese of Chicago.

The leave was effective Tuesday and was scheduled to last "a couple of weeks," the statement said.

Pfleger, who has promised George he would no longer mention any presidential candidates by name, did not believe "this to be the right step at this time," according to the statement.

"While respecting his disagreement, I have nevertheless asked him to use this opportunity to reflect," George said in the statement. "I hope that this period will also be a time away from the public spotlight and for rest and attention to family concerns."

Messages seeking comment were left Tuesday for Pfleger and the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Pfleger, a 59-year-old white priest at a largely black parish, has gained a reputation for impassioned sermons and activism. The Archdiocese said his temporary replacement is the Rev. William Vanecko, pastor of Chicago's St. Kilian Catholic Church.

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