CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — For the second time in less than two years, Father Michael Pfleger announced he is stepping aside as the Chicago Archdiocese investigates child sex abuse allegations against the Catholic priest and activist.
Cardinal Blase Cupich wrote to parishioners at Saint Sabina and said the allegations of abuse are from more than 30 years ago. They’ve been reported to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and law enforcement.
Parishioners heading to mass told CBS 2 they support Pfleger.
“He’s good for the neighborhood,” one parishioner said. “He’s good for the city. They can’t touch him because he didn’t do anything wrong.”
Another, Diane Washington-Martin, defended Pfleger from allegations that he abused a boy more than 30 years ago.
“We wait, and that waiting game is really hard,” Washington-Martin said.
Pfleger was accused of sexual abuse in January 2021 by two adult brothers. A panel later found "insufficient reason to suspect" he was guilty. A third man came forward a few months later with a claim that Pfleger made an unwanted sexual advance when he was 18 — but he didn't file that claim with the Archdiocese.
A man now in his 40s has made the most recent allegations, in which he claims Pfleger sexually abused him twice in the church rectory while he was a member of the Soul Children of Chicago Choir.
“We have to investigate that, and I’m whole-heartedly about that — and so is Father Mike, as well,” Washington-Martin said.
Pfleger has maintained his innocence. He said in a letter to parishioners: "Unfortunately the process of the Archdiocese today is that a priest is presumed guilty until proven innocent."
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