Parishioners want a meeting with Cardinal George by the end of the week. We haven't gotten confirmation from the archdiocese, but they have been exchanging letters with the cardinal and they plan to set up the meeting by the end of the week. They want to tell the cardinal how disruptive this leave of absence is for the entire parish.
There are several big activities planned at the church. At about 3)30 p.m. Wednesday on the steps of St. Sabina Church, parishioners voiced their feelings.
On Tuesday, Cardinal George asked Pfleger to take a leave after a controversial sermon on that mocked Hillary Clinton May 25. Parishioners want him to participate in upcoming church events. For now, the archdiocese has appointed an fill-in administrator, Fr. William Vancecko. He will oversee church activities.
"We wholly disagree with the decision of Francis Cardinal George, and we call for the immediate reinstatement of Fr. Pfleger at pastor of the church with all of his authority," said Shanita Akintonde, St. Sabina Academy board member.
"The fact that this unmerited decision has resulted in Father Pfleger not being able to attend my son's first graduation at St. Sabina is greatly troubling," said Nakita Jackson, St. Sabina Academy parent.
"It is a feeling of being robbed. One day your family member is there, and one day they are not. I had no voice. I had no part in the decision," said parishioner Amanda Breedlove.
"Our part is just to keep the regular parish day-to-day activities going," said Vancecko.
A spokeswoman says that the cardinal will not be saying anything publicly about this, but she does say that there have been casual discussions with Father Pfleger about a possibility of a permanent transition sometime in the future.
For now, Pfleger is not going to spend another night at the recotry. He hopes to be staying in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood, where he has had a role in transforming it in the last 30 years.
