(CNN) - The priest who mocked Hillary Clinton during a visit to Trinity United Church of Christ has been asked by church leadership to take a temporary – and unwilling - leave of absence to reflect on his remarks.
"To put recent events in some perspective, I have asked Father Michael Pfleger, Pastor of St. Sabina’s Parish, to step back from his obligations there and take leave for a couple of weeks from his pastoral duties, effective today," said Cardinal Francis George in a statement.
"Fr. Pfleger does not believe this to be the right step at this time. While respecting his disagreement, I have nevertheless asked him to use this opportunity to reflect on his recent statements and actions in the light of the Church’s regulations for all Catholic priests,” he added. “I hope that this period will also be a time away from the public spotlight and for rest and attention to family concerns."
Earlier, the cardinal had said Pfleger would avoid speaking about any presidential candidate through Election Day.
The controversial comments came during a May 25 visit to Barack Obama’s former church, when Pfleger described Hillary Clinton as a white elitist who felt entitled to be the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee.
Pfleger also faced criticism for his statement that day that "America is the greatest sin against God." He said Monday that had actually intended to say “racism” was the greatest sin.
Barack Obama and his wife Michelle announced Saturday that they had resigned their church membership in Trinity, which drew the media spotlight earlier this year over headline-grabbing statements by its former minister, Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
From CNN Politics
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Amen !
I don't care about him making fun of Hilary – it was the profanity used – he is a priest....in the pulpit....supposedly a mouthpiece for God and uses that kind of language.....what is this world coming too....does anyone believe or read the Bible anymore???
I am a catholic and this priest needs to either leave the preisthood or be sent to a country that could teach him what his role in this world is. I am surprise that the vatican has allowed him to go as far as he has
This priest has no business being in the pulpit. Give him a permant vacation please.
Profanity? What did he actually say?
Seriously, look up this guy on you tube. He sums up the wright controversy PERFECTLY. He calls the media on this drummed up hit job and I have little doubt that this story is just as out of context and exaggerated. Why people have such trouble seeing when they are being deliberately misled amazes me. Its called context America. Look it up.
I as well as others around me have found the comments of Fr. Pfleger to be absurd, there should be no room for comments like this during a really emotional campaign. It shouldn't stress the "Obama Campaign" for obvious reasons!
NOTHING TO DO W/ OBAMA- leave this man alone and let him figure out his career/relationship with Christ in private.
Kick this hate-spewing, non-spiritual "individual" out of the Catholic church!
so the catholic church puts Ministers who mocks candidates on leave but doesn't put priest who molest these little children on leave?
Fight the good fight.. with all .. thy might, Christ is thy Strength, and Christ thy right; Lay hold on Life, and it shall be Thy Joy enter-anl-ly, Thy Joy
E-ter-nal-ly. Run the straight race... through God's good grace.
A HYMN FOR HILLARY
FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT HILLARY WE ARE WITH YOU!
What a double standard! If this priest had made disparaging remarks about Obama he would be celebrated! What happened to the FIRST AMMENDMENT! I suppose it dosen't apply to the clergy! HYPOCRITES!
LEAVE OBAMA ALONE
He just got his 15-minutes of fame. This will die out and he will never be heard from again. The only people that know of him are the people that will ask him to step down and out. Good writtens and of course GOD-speed.
Before you all write this man off for one incident, did you bother to research all the good he has done in Chicago. The Employment Resource Center, the Social Services Center, and the Elder home. He got tobacco and alcohol ads moved from a lot of black communities in Chicago. He adopted three sons against the wishes of those above him. One of those sons is serving in the Army. Do your research before you buy into the media hype...
Just the 2nd in what I'm sure is a long line of Obama friends who are prejudiced and racist. Can't wait to see what the Republicans find out that the media never bothered looking for. Be safe America: Write in Hillary Clinton this fall.
Separation of Church and State!!! Even Christ himself said "render to Cesar what is Cesar's and render to God what is God's." That means separation of Church and State and we knew that 2,000 years ago.
What he said was very stupid, but perhaps he said what others are afraid to say and thing...hum
I don't mean to sound cruel, but I hope those hymns for Hillary help you Hillary Supporters sleep well tonight, because Senator Obama is virtually guaranteed the nomination tonight.
I'm no Hillary Clinton fan, but this kind of vitriol doesn't belong at a pulpit. Shouldn't he be setting an example for the rest of us? Shouldn't he try to model Jesus' behavior?
I understand that some churches use a more energetic, emotional style–but shouldn't they still preach a doctrine of peace and togetherness?
I enjoy the Father antics but but he should have been
aware that they would not be accepted in this society.
Anyone know where John King is?
This man is one of the few white people who had the courage to speak the truth and say exactly what is happening. Hillary felt entitled, and rallied a bunch of racists behind her to try to denigrate Obama.
If men of god want to be blunt about the truth they need to do it outside of the pulpit!
WHAT..did he say that was untrue????? Hillary did think she was 'entitled".
Hillary did use being BILL'S wife and Bill's record to 'boost? her resume... and she is white......
The man spoke the truth. Most of us felt that way when Hillary was crying... it was panic, shock and disbelief tears.
FAther Pfleger is quite comical They should give him stint on Saturday Night Live ( SNL).
Dear Cardinal,
There is politics in heaven talkless of on earth. By the way, isthere anything false on what he said? If we cannot get truth and sincerity in the church, where else does it exist?
BIFF, BIFFINGTON... June 3rd, 2008 6:00 pm ET
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
I am originally from chicago. Father Pflegler has done outstanding work for the community, and has held an African-American Catholic congregation together under withering circumstances…. he even ADOPTED a black chile. I commend him on all of his work…..
now living in Phoenix AZ and looking at the footage… (knowing that THAT church would be under a something akin to the HUBBLE TELESCOPE……
THAT WAS THE STUPIDEST SPEACH I EVER SAW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DUMMY!
He said nothing but the trust.
I was completely surprise to see that in this country, freedom of speech in being limited.
JJ was right on with his comment. Where was the church when the those victims needed them. I can't believe my church has done this. This is a shame of their part.
This guy is a 20+ year friend of Barack Hussein Obama.
I'M SHOCKED.
The quick action by the cardinal suggest they have learn their lesson from the child abuse scandals....Bigotry of any kind must notn be tolerated.
Why for keeping it real. He only brought the truth out. Some people are like that towards the African American community. Its time to change. A new day has come and GOD made us all equal.
Get off Obama this is not his fault. Thats why he left because you guys will always target him and he does not agree. Wake up idiots!! Grow up and stop the drama. Vote for Obama!!
He should be fired. Why would he even say something like this in the pulpit. What ever happened about preaching love and being Christ like.
Father Pfleger:
Do yourself a favor; take the opportunity to get out from under the Roman Catholic rock.
Go Episcopalian! They have a sense of humor, they don't think gays and lesbians are anything other than regular folks with different preferences, and they don't abuse alter boys!
You'll be better off there.....and better off OUT!
So...the catholic church will suspend a priest for making nasty comments to an adult, but the catholic church won't suspend a priest for doing the nasty to a child. How interesting...
Good this so called priest is off the wall.
the pope needs to fire his stupid arse!!!!!!!!!!
Good – this man is nuts and that church of Obama's looks more like a circus than a place of worship to me.
Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office.
Bad enough for this type of language/attitude to come out of the pulpit. What about all the congregation clapping and shouting? If the members of this church act this way, why should be think that Obama would not have been a part of it? Sure, he wasn't there that Sunday. He is campaigning after all. But, from the previous minister and now the guest minister, we have no reason to believe this was anything but the norm. I am thankful my pastor and my fellow members do not act this way. If they did, I would not be a part of the congregation.
This priest said the right things but truth is often bitter. The cardinal did not act correctly.
So you can rape little boys and be protected but can't speak about someone! You rape little boys but you dislike homosexuals. The catholic church is so backwards.... No wonder Hitler used this religion to justify his mission, and America used it to justify genocide and slavery.
I am really not encouraging this king of behavior from our clergy, priest or pastor, i think they should stay out of politics for the good of their church, themselves and the candidates. As uncomfortable as his remarks can be, i don't understand why he was asked to take a leave when priests accused in sexual abuses have been protected and tolerated..
You know Rev.Wright got a lot of attention out of his awful remarks, and I think this Priest?? wanted some medium attention. He does not sound like any priest I have ever heard.
Though it was wrong to say... the man was only saying what most people are thinking and too afraid to say.
Talk about double standards; closet homosexuals get a slap on this hand but make a comment about a man who has been persecuted by right wing radio and fox and you get suspended.
OBAMA. how come you leave our church just to get some votes from those whites out there? Didn't your momma teach you nothin about right and wrong?
Kerri asks if anyone reads the bible anymore because a priest curses in the pulpit. Have you read the Song of Songs? Jesus used pretty coarse language and certainly Paul did in his epistles. It sounds like the Bible most of us acknowledge is a pretty sanitized version of the whole. I did not agree with what he said, but I get worried when our elected officials are saying in public, "This should never be said in the pulpit." Separation of church and state is for the protection of religious institutions against state sanctioning of religious speech and practice. I also worry more about ministers, churches, denominations and non-profits on both sides of the political spectrum throwing their support behind a certain political party or individual running for office instead of someone saying something naughty.
I am appalled by the expressions of such pastors. I believe God helped them to be pastors to guide their flocks toward a loving God. It is terrible that they become so deeply involved in such secular issues as politics.
He reminded me of Paul Mooney or Chris Rock. A stand-up comic just having some fun. It's a shame that so many people are so PC sensitive that they don't see the humor in his performance. Fleger was and is a great man, and it's a shame that most people don't see that. Some people just can't take a good joke.
Did he think he was on Saturday Night Live? There should be no mockery in church or in politics. I have to admit though, the turning point for me that really really really turned me OFF to Hillary Clinton was when she gave that disgusting sarcastic display after the Texas caucus/primary where she made the comments about the celestial skys opening....etc. At that moment, I knew that woman would never be president...she didn't have the intelligence or the dignity for a leadership role.
I doubt Obama sat on his hands when these things were being preached.
this guy is a evil.
Yeah AMerica! Ain't it great!
What happened to free religion and free speech. Does it just applies to some and not others. I would think Cardinal George and the Catholic Church have more pressing issues than what has been done. But then too, maybe to the Catholics of Color, there is a message in the this discipline. I think you all need to write to the 'Holy Father' about this, could be a racial overtone to all of this. Would have been different if Father Pflegler had lied, but he didn't.
I'm calling my Priest for a meeting as soon as tomorrow. But right now having a good time watching Obama beating Hillary!
Boo-hooo (LOL)
Good! That can go along with his permanent leave of his senses.
As hideous as Pfleger's caricaturing of Hillary was, what I found most disgusting was the fact that some members of the congregation stood up and applauded him. Father Pfleger apologized later, but that is not enough; those members who participated in that ugly floor show need to follow up with a collective apology. The whole scene gave the impression that the atmosphere in the church was not abnormal. That leads to the following question: how can Obama claim to be unaware - directory or indirectly – of such church sermon after having been a part of it for twenty years? it's a hard sell.
Too bad we can't have a President who doesn't go to church.
As a Catholic I feel this man needs to be removed. This is not an example of how a priest acts. He has shamed our church and himself. I am no supporter of Obama, however, his behavior should be handled quickly and he should be removed.
look people leave this the hell alone you ran obama out of his church now this is not the churches preacher so just get off it
hipacrits is what you are do not judge people is not you job
obama has not been running for office for twenty years, so that bulls
Hallelujah!!!!! Now that Obama has locked up the nomination we can finally shift all this Hillary talk to "da Man" and talk up da Man's extensive executive background, lengthy congressional service record, lengthy foreign relations career, commended military service record, documented history of reversing economic policy disasters, and so on and so on. Seriously, anyone care that Obama has the worst attendance record of any first term U.S. Senator in U.S. history who wasn't physically incapacitated or serving in a war? Only a dimwit (er demwit) would elect a person so profoundly unqualified as Obama to be their nominee. It's almost like Rove is in the wings at the DNC orchestrating Obama's nomination.
How in the world is Obama linked to this guy, I mean isn't it easy to see that preachers operate under different rules than I guess almost any one else. I have been to two handfuls of churches where the pastor says a lot of shock and awe statements, to make us (people) reflect on our inner demons. Pastors are people also; Did he get caught up in the moment? Any way good choice by the catholic church to suspend this Priest because we all know how righteous They are and They don't need this type of PR