Controversial Chicago Priest Accused of Sexual Misconduct … Again.

Father Michael Pfleger, pastor of Chicago’s mostly Black inner-city St. Sabina Church, has been accused of sexual misconduct – and this is not the first time. The latest accusation has been made by a woman who claims that Pfleger sexually molested her 30 years ago, when she was a young student.

According to reports, the alleged incidents occurred between 1993 and 1995 while she attended school at the Auburn Gresham parish. The Archdiocese of Chicago, under Cardinal Blase Cupich, promptly sidelined the 77-year-old priest pending investigation — marking yet another suspension amid a pattern of serious claims.

This marks the fifth allegation of sexual misconduct against Pfleger since 2021. Previous accusations from three men and another individual dating back to the 1970s through the 1990s were investigated and ultimately deemed unsubstantiated by the archdiocese’s review board.

Pfleger has vehemently denied the latest claim as “an absolute lie” — asserting he has no memory of the accuser and framing it as an attempt to silence his activism and extract money from the Church. Yet the recurring nature of these accusations raises uncomfortable questions about accountability in institutions long plagued by scandals.

While American jurisprudence requires an assumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law, the number of accusers is hard to explain away. And while Pfleger claims that the accusations are attempts by politically motivated people to silence him, there is no evidence to support that response other than his own controversial activism.

One need not stretch far to compare Pfleger to a political weathervane that spins furiously with every progressive breeze while claiming divine guidance. His tenure at St. Sabina has blended pastoral duties with relentless political activism. Pfleger has marched against gun shops, protested with figures like Jesse Jackson, and aligned with controversial voices including Louis Farrakhan. He has frequently attacked policies of President Trump and political machine that runs Chicago. He has organized protests against perceived corporate greed and positioned himself as a champion fighting against racism and violence in Chicago’s streets.

Pfleger has often directed sharp criticism at City Hall, railing against policies he viewed as insufficiently aggressive on social issues. He has also leveled attacks on elements within the Catholic Church itself — a body he serves yet often seems to treat as just another flawed institution requiring his reformist zeal.

These activities have not gone unnoticed by superiors. He has faced multiple suspensions, including those tied directly to the outspoken manner in which he has carried out his advocacy. Twice before, the Chicago archdiocese had suspended Pfleger for his activist behavior — portraying himself as a persecuted prophet.

The irony drips thicker than Chicago summer humidity. Here stands a priest who has spent decades decrying systemic injustices while the institution housing him repeatedly investigates claims of the most intimate betrayal of trust. Sexual misconduct allegations against clergy demand rigorous examination, not dismissal as politically motivated smears.

The presumption of innocence remains vital, yet the Catholic Church’s history of mishandling such cases justifies skepticism toward reflexive defenses. Victims deserve justice, and the faithful deserve shepherds whose lives reflect the moral standards they preach.

Pfleger’s defenders rally around his social justice record, but others recognize that genuine compassion begins with protecting the vulnerable, especially children entrusted to religious authority. Chicago’s inner-city communities, already burdened by violence and broken families, hardly benefit from leadership mired in repeated scandal. Apart from his very loyal congregation, Pfleger’s activism suffers from a loss of respect and credibility from the greater community — and undermines the credibility of the Catholic Church.

As this latest investigation unfolds, one hopes for transparency and thoroughness. The pattern of accusations, cleared yet persistent, invites broader reflection on how celebrity clerics blend faith with political theater.

(Speaking of the theatrical … Pfleger, a German American, takes on the style and dialect of a Black preacher when sermonizing. They say it is his way of relating. To me, it is patronizing — the verbal equivalent of blackface. But I digress.)

Unfortunately, sexual misconduct – especially from years past – lacks the forensic evidence required in a court of law. It all hangs on the question of credibility – which side is more believable. Facing yet another accuser creates a credibility problem for Pfleger.

So, there ‘tis.