Catholic League steps where it shouldn’t
Bill Donohue, president of the “non-partisan” Catholic League, decided to inject himself in the Barack Obama/Fr. John Pfleger matter. Do read Donohue’s entire statement.
Why Donohue needed to comment on the matter and slam Fr. Pfleger is not at all clear to me. Some thoughts: Fr. Pleger is not as “divisive” as Rev. Jeremiah White. What does the “color of their skin” have to do with evaluating or criticizing the social and theological ramifications of their respective ministries? Does Donohue really have an issue with state money going to Catholic social programs or just with state money going to St. Sabina’s social programs? Why did Donohue have to issue his comments after Barack Obama denounced Fr. Pfleger’s remakrs, after Fr. Pfleger apologized, and after Cardinal George rebuked Fr. Pfleger and the latter promised not to help the campaign of any candidate? The priest in question has apologized and his bishop has swiftly handled the matter. It’s a closed issue. Why bring it up in the media and perpetuate the story if not for partisan reasons?
Fr. Pfleger is a controversial priest, but his accomplishments and ministries ought not to go ignored. Here is the AP’s write-up on his efforts in South Chicago where, I imagine, being an effective Catholic priest is not the simplest and most commonplace task:
Pfleger has invited criticism with his words and actions in the past, even before Sunday’s fiery sermon at Trinity United Church of Christ.
He has hit the streets, sometimes with busloads of parishioners in tow, to protest Jerry Springer’s television show, stores that sell drug paraphernalia and gun violence. He’s been arrested for acts of civil disobedience, such as smearing red paint on alcohol and tobacco billboards. Last year, he and the Rev. Jesse Jackson were arrested during a protest of a suburban gun shop; charges were later dropped.
Pfleger’s fight to make the community safe is an intensely personal one. He’s adopted three children, one of whom was gunned down near the church in 1998.
Pfleger has urged parishioners to pay prostitutes and drug users so they could share their faith with them. He has offered his church as a place where controversial figures can express their views. Farrakhan spoke there, as did the Rev. Al Sharpton.
At times, there has been talk of diocesan officials reassigning Pfleger, but he is immensely popular in his parish and has helped it thrive over the past quarter-century as many other congregations have struggled.
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My feathers always feel a little bit ruffled when someone like Bill Donahue does the job of an ordinary, particularly when the ordinary has handled a situation as effectively as Cardinal George has handled this one.
Maybe Catholics should be concerned when an ordained member of the priesthood repeatedly spews hatred, lies, and wrath.
Maybe the issue is that Pflegmer’s apology was too little, too late (18 years), and it’s highly probable that the frocked demogogue will post haste renew his calumnies, detractions and incitements to racial hatred.
Maybe, Dr. D. will lay off if Father I-hate-whitey accepts the transfer he refused in 2002.
Maybe, if Father I- hate-America commits to be christian in future public outbursts . . .
From the enlightening news of Wright’s and Pfleger’s ministries, I no longer wonder why 90% of blacks hate whites.
That’s the way it is. I don’t care about their justifcation for hating whites. It’s just another thing that needs to be endured in this vale of tears. However, Fr. Pflegm doesn’t need to enflame it.
……..Glad I’ve only ever met African Americans in the nice 10%
Pax Christi,
Fierce critique of America makes one un-Christian?
Michael J. – Do you really think that inciting hatred is a “fierce critique”?
I no longer wonder why 90% of blacks hate whites.
If you believe that statistic, you haven’t a brain worth anything.
I’m a little curious about what the article means when it says: “He’s adopted three children.” Are they grown now? Can priests adopt? I know there was a priest who took care of J.R.R. Tolkien when he was orphaned, but I don’t know if that was a formal adoption. Does anybody know the rules on that?
Michael J. – Do you really think that inciting hatred is a “fierce critique”?
I see no evidence of the priest “inciting hatred” toward america.
A friend from inner city Chicago attests to the great work Pfleger has done. At great personal risks, he told the gangs and the drug dealers to get out of the neighborhood. He started refurshing abandoned buildings. He does outreach to prostitites. Donohue should pray for the grace to to the kind of good that Pfleger does.
Well I think Pfleger is a fruitcake.
Why has not Bill Donohue been ecclesially silenced as a “spokesperson” for the Church?
If I were a bishop and he were in my jurisdiction, I would at the very least gently encourage a redirection of his time towards hands-on lay ministry/social outreach in, say, inner city soup kitchens, HIV wards, etc.
Bill Donohue is certainly partisan. He is a far-right conservative, aggressive promoter of culture wars, and protector of conservative-leaning Catholic bashers-in particular evangelicals.
He never met a liberal he didn’t denounce.
I totally agree with Mark DeFrancisis as far as Donohue needing to have his energies redirected toward something constructive for a change. I dare say he wouldn’t want to dirty his hands working in a soup kitchen and would probably attack and rally his troops against anyone who dared to suggest it.