Fr. Pfleger celebrates mass after 5 month hiatus due to allegations
Father Michael Pfleger leads Sunday mass for the first time in five months after being cleared of abuse allegations.
Video Transcript
JESSE KIRSCH: Liz, Pfleger will be leading mass here for the first time in five months. And you can see there are already dozens lined up outside and they're now applauding. The doors have opened. They are starting to move inside St. Sabina Catholic Church right now. Pfleger had been under investigation for sexual abuse after two adult brothers accused Pfleger of assaulting them decades ago when they were teenagers. The Chicago Archdiocese investigated finding, quote, "Insufficient reason to suspect Father Pfleger is guilty."
Cardinal Blase Cupich reinstated Pfleger last month who has maintained his innocence throughout the investigation. Father Mike, as he's known, was cheered on by dozens of supporters last month as he spoke outside St. Sabina Catholic Church where he has worked for decades. Now these parishioners are moving inside for the service. We spoke with one a short time ago who has been coming here for several years. Here's what he had to say.
JOSEPH SAUNDERS: Father Mike is just a man for the people. He told me he wanted to be back just to serve the people. He was eager to serve the people and that was it.
JESSE KIRSCH: That man described feeling electric this morning. He says to me that he sees Father Michael Pfleger sort of like a general leading his troops into battle. The battle being waging a war against gun violence here in Chicago. In fact, Pfleger has said in recent weeks that he is anxious to return to the streets to combat the city's gun violence problem. And the timing of this, course, appropriate, considering that we are heading into the summer and we have already been reporting on shootings this morning, Liz and Mark. The mass will be here at 10:00 AM. We expect 300 people, masked, to be inside worshipping. You can see they're already making their way inside here at St. Sabina. Back to you.
