Overview
- The Archdiocese of Chicago notified St. Sabina parishioners Saturday that Cardinal Blase Cupich asked Pfleger to step away from ministry and live away from the parish while the Office for Child Abuse Investigations and the Independent Review Board examine a claim the alleged abuse occurred at St. Sabina more than 30 years ago.
- Father Michael Pfleger issued a public denial calling the accusation "an absolute lie" and said he has no memory of the woman who reported the incident, while also criticizing church policies that remove priests during reviews.
- The Archdiocese said the review panels will investigate the claim, may consult law enforcement as required by policy, and will make recommendations to Cardinal Cupich before any final decision is made.
- St. Sabina held services without Pfleger over the weekend and many congregants publicly supported him, reflecting strong local loyalty that contrasts with the church’s stated priority of child safety.
- Pfleger has faced multiple decades-old accusations in recent years that were previously investigated and not sustained, a pattern that has raised tensions about due process, survivor reporting, and the Archdiocese’s handling of historic claims.