CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSADIO) -- Supporters of Father Michael Pfleger showed up at St. Sabina Catholic Church a day after the priest was removed and the Archdiocese said a 40-plus-year-old allegation of sexual abuse of a minor was being investigated.
"There's no allegations that you could bring without facts for us to even consider anything you have to say regarding to Father Pfleger, because we would not allow you to remove him from our community," said Troy Gaston.
There was a lot of that sentiment expressed Wednesday outside St. Sabina. Many don’t want to believe the allegation, some even refuse to believe.
Of course only two people know for sure.
Activist Ja’Mal Green stopped by the church and school to lend his support to the priest who’s been a mentor.
"He's always the first to step up and say demand justice. We have never heard allegations like this. This is not Father Michael Pfleger. This is not the man we know," he said.
Green said he would be exonerated and the church will owe him and the people of St. Sabina a public apology.
"He will be exonerated fully and he will be right back here. I want to put a message out to the Catholic church, that their investigation should be very swift and they should make sure that when they are done they exonerate his name and apologize to the St. Sabina community," he said.
He also acknowledged that there could be a victim and said that person's story should be told.
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Other activists, including Tio Hardiman and Eric Russell, spoke in support of the long-time Catholic priest who's South Side congregation is largely African American - some more forceful.
"Although we sympathize with any victim, but there is an insidious hand at play here. Any time somebody speaks up for black folks, they want to be ostracized," Russell said.
He demanded Pfleger be reinstated immediately.
One member of St. Sabina said if Pfleger were a predator, there would be other allegations.
Another said the community will never allow the church to remove the controversial priest, who over the years, has run afoul of the church regarding a number of issues, but has been allowed to remain at the same church for decades while other priests are moved from parish to parish.