Sharpton Uses Pulpit at St. Sabina's to Blast Pres. Bush As Pro-Life Catholics Picket Outside

Catholic Citizens of Illinois ^ | February 10, 2003 | Karl Maurer

[Land of the Irish]

As pro-life protests go, the demonstration on Chicago's south side Sunday morning was a familiar sight. American flags fluttered in the morning sun. Roman Catholics recited the Rosary, a series of prayers and meditations on the life, death and resurrection of Christ. Protesters held signs with pictures of Jesus and babies, some with captions like, "choose the gift of life." It was a familiar routine for pro-life demonstrators, but there were a few factors that made this protest unusual.

First of all, it was freezing. With temperatures in the teens, and wind gusts of 20 to 30 miles an hour coming off Lake Michigan, the subzero wind chill factor was enough to send even the most winter-hardened Chicagoan scrambling for shelter. In spite of the brutal cold, the protestors stood outside for over an hour. Secondly, this protest didn't take place at an abortion clinic, but on the front steps of a Roman Catholic Church (St. Sabina's Catholic Church, Rev. Michael Pfleger, pastor) as pro-abortion, Democratic presidential candidate Rev. Al Sharpton spoke inside during the regularly scheduled 11:15 a.m. Mass service.

The protest was prompted by a series of events set in motion by a February 5, Chicago Sun-Times report that Rev. Pfleger had invited Democratic presidential candidate and Pentecostal minister Rev. Al Sharpton to speak during Mass. This created several problems for local, faithful Catholics and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. In the first place, Sharpton is pro-abortion and the Archdiocese of Chicago has a long-standing policy that pro-abortion candidates are not, under any circumstances, allowed to use Church property. Furthermore, Sharpton is a presidential candidate. IRS rules clearly stipulate that religious groups can jeopardize their tax-exempt status by hosting political events. Lastly, Canon Law -- the rules that govern the Catholic Church -- clearly stipulate that the homily during a Catholic service must be preached by a Bishop, Priest, or Deacon. Laymen, especially laymen who aren't Catholic, are precluded from participating in a Mass this way.

Sharpton also hauls a lot of baggage. Last week, Jim Bowman of Blithe-spirit.com reported, "Rev. Sharpton, who supports the right to abort a baby, has a checkered past. He gained national fame when he vigorously espoused the cause of a New York woman who falsely claimed that some policemen had raped her and has never admitted he was wrong."

Sharpton told Sun-Times reporter Cathleen Falsani during her interview with him that this was his first time preaching in a Catholic church. "The comfort," however, "is that Father Pfleger is a different kind of a Catholic priest," he said. Different, indeed.

Throughout the week, as the controversy escalated, Rev. Pfleger refused to comment, referring people to comments he had made to the Sun-Times in the prior week. "He (Sharpton) is going to talk about civil rights and black history," said Pfleger. "One of the reasons we have invited Rev. Sharpton, is seemingly the at-home issues of poverty and homelessness and racism and healthcare are not just on the back burner, they're not even being addressed." Sounding more like a political communications director than a pastor, Pfleger went on to say, "While we're obsessed with overseas terrorism, we've kind of ignored the terrorisms we have had here long before September 11."

When asked by the Sun-Times two weeks ago about the political nature of his views, and the potential controversy his appearance would provoke, Rev. Sharpton said he intended to preach about "putting the war in Iraq, as well as the domestic fights around the economy and affirmative action, in a historical context. In my studies of the Bible, people were always challenged by learning and studying history."

Chicago Catholics reacted to the Sun-Times reports earlier in the prior week by flooding the Archdiocese with angry calls and emails demanding that Francis Cardinal George intercede and cancel the appearance.

Finally, late on Friday afternoon, the Cardinal issued a press release indicating his support for the celebration of Black History Month, but that he "does not approve of the invitation because of the Rev. Sharpton's present political candidacy and his pro-abortion stance." In spite of the fact that the Sharpton visit was in violation of Canon Law, IRS regulations, and his own diocesan policy on pro-abortion speakers, Cardinal George's press statement concluded by saying that "making a case of this invitation at this time would be a futile gesture and a waste of effort."

Catholic, pro-life leaders expressed shock and outrage over the Cardinal's refusal to cancel Sharpton's appearance and his defeatist attitude.

Chicago Archdiocese parishioner Tina Mahar left several messages with the Archdiocese and recieved no response. "This is a clear violation of Canon Law," noted Mahar. "Al Sharpton should not be speaking ANY time in ANY Catholic Church!"

Bill Beckman, also a Roman Catholic and Executive Director of Illinois Right to Life was equally outraged. In a letter to Cardinal George, Beckman pointed out that Pfleger's conduct was clearing in contradition to the policies the Cardinal had assured Senator O'Malley were in place. "This subject was raised previously," said Beckman. Beckman went on ask who was running the Archdiocese, George or Pfleger? "Who is in charge of whom? What is so difficult about requiring that Al Sharpton appear in the parish hall AFTER Mass, consistent with norms you cite? How can that be a "futile gesture and a waste of effort'?"

Mary Anne Hackett, President of Catholic Citizens of Illinois, was also disappointed. "The comment, 'this is a futile gesture and a waste of effort' is outrageous," said Mary Anne Hackett, President of Catholic Citizens of Illinois. "I can only hope that Cardinal George has been misquoted. But I can tell you for every baby killed because of Al Sharton's position on abortion, it is not a waste of effort. For every Catholic pro-lifer who expects some moral leadership from the Church, it is not a waste of effort. For every Catholic pro-abortion politician headed for Hell, it is not a waste of effort. We want this pro-abortion preaching in our Catholic Churches to stop. It is already 30 years late."

Chicago based Friends of the Unborn (FOTU) issued a press release critical of Sharpton's abortion record. "He was honored by NARAL Pro-Choice America at their Washington DC 'celebration' of the Roe vs. Wade (anniversary) in January." The release also noted that Sharpton responded to pro-life protesters as that event by saying that he normally did not cross picket lines, but was happy to cross the pro-lifers' picket line. According to the release, Sharpton then taunted the protesters, saying, "the Christian Right needs to me the right Christians."

The FOTU release went on to list the statistics on abortions. "Black Americans make up 13% of the population, yet 33% of abortions are performed on black women. These numbers are tantamount to genocide and the leaders in the Black community should be up in arms."

Meanwhile, as the protest went on outside, the parishioners of St. Sabina's were literally up in arms, hands swaying to Gospel music, as Rev. Pfleger led them in spirited song prior to Mass. One of the pro-life protesters who went inside and reported "they were jumping up and down signing like it was some kind of charismatic revival meeting. The place was packed, but it wasn't like any Catholic ceremony I've ever seen."

The protest outside was peaceful and prayerful. Representatives came from Catholic Citizens of Illinois, the Catholic Archdiocesan Respect Life Office, American Tradition, Family and Property (TFP), the Pro-Life Action League, and Bremen-Orland Citizens of Life, and represented a group of roughly two dozen protestors.

Upon arriving at St. Sabina's at 10:30 a.m., demonstrators were 'welcomed' by three tough guys who emerged from St. Sabina's and appeared to be security guards. The men, who did not identify themselves, pointed out that the protesters were trespassing on Catholic Church property, and demanded that the entire group move from the sidewalk in front of the Church to an area across the street. When several of the protesters responded that they were Catholics, and weren't going to move, the Chicago police were called. Immediately upon their arrival, the police informed the protestors and security guards that Rev. Pfleger did not want the protestors interfered with.

The demonstrators proceeded to hand out hundreds of pro-life handbills as parishioners began to arrive for the morning service. Several parishioners yelled back that the protesters that "it's a woman's right to choose!" or "who's gonna take care of the babies?" At one point, several parishioners confronted the protestors, who were white, as anti-black racists. The altercation fizzled after the pro-life protestors responded that Jesus Christ died for all humanity, regardless of skin color.

The Sharpton controversy was front-page news in the Saturday Sun-Times, and drew a large media contingent. Local affiliates of ABC, CBS, NBC, WGN and FOX TV covered Sharpton's speech and the protest. On-line news service www.illinoisleader.com was also represented.

As expected, Sharpton was allowed to use the pulpit during the Mass, and as expected, he delivered a highly charged political speech. Excerpts were carried on local news stations during the Sunday evening news. The news anchors at those stations also pointing out that Cardinal George had objected to the appearance due to Sharpton's political standing and pro-abortion views.

Sharpton was bitterly critical of George W. Bush's foreign and domestic policies, and even criticized Bush's father, George H. Bush. Sharpton accused the president of ignoring domestic problems and waging a war with Iraq that few in America wanted.

If he were to win the Democratic nomination for president, Sharpton would face incumbent President George W. Bush, who is pro-life. The current Bush administration has demanded a ban on late term, 'partial birth' abortions. Bush has also proposed that unborn babies be recognized as citizens entitled to health benefits. This controversial proposal makes an end run around Roe vs. Wade by recognizing unborn babies as American citizens owed equal protection of their Constitutional rights to life and liberty.

As if having pro-abortion speakers at the pulpit giving homilies was a common occurrence, Rev. Pfleger displayed feigned shock for the cameras on Sunday prior to services. Claiming that the opposition all happened suddenly, and Sharpton's announced candidacy came long after he was invited, Pfleger compared Sharpton's Black History Month invitation to last February's speaker, South African Bishop Desmond Tutu. However, the differences between the pro-abortion, racially charged politics of Sharpton, and the peaceful, Christian spirituality of Tutu are substantial.

As the protest concluded, members of the Coalition to Share the Truth called on Rev. Pfleger to clear up the confusion caused by inviting Sharpton to address the congregation at St. Sabina's, particularly in light of the Vatican's recent guidelines, which have clearly indicated that no Catholic politician can be 'pro-choice' when that choice means taking an innocent life through abortion. Coalition representative Joe Scheidler said, "Father Pfleger needs to make it crystal clear that his parishioners cannot vote for a candidate who espouses a pro-abortion agenda."

Rev. Pfleger has given his pulpit to other pro-abortion speakers before, including singer Harry Belafonte this year on Sunday, January 20, when Belafonte chastised Bush for being pro-life and threatening a "woman's right to an abortion."

Pfleger has also hosted Black Muslim firebrand Louis Farrakhan, ridiculer of the Pope and castigator of Judaism as "a gutter religion."

Rev. Pfleger was at the center of contraversy in 2001 over St. Sabina's membership in a Catholic athletic league. Pfleger accused suburban Catholic schools of being racist when they voted not to admit St. Sabina's due to safety concerns traveling into high crime areas of Chicago in the evenings with bus loads of children and young adults.

Buckling to media pressure Cardinal George demanded St. Sabina's be admitted to the league or suburban Catholic schools would suffer repercussions. Later, when the crime statistics -- in particular the murder rates -- for the area surrounding St. Sabina's were made public, the leaders of several suburban Catholic schools let it be know that they were going to opt for the repercussions rather then endanger their students. In the midst of this, Rev. Pfleger suddenly and unexpectedly withdrew St. Sabina's from the Catholic athletic league.

Last year, Rev. Pfleger was given a short term extension of his term at St. Sabina's after he threatened to leave the priesthood if he was transferred from St. Sabina's. Rotation of Catholic pastors to new parishes is standard practice in most Catholic dioceses across the country. On average, pastors serve serves of 5 to 10 years in one parish before moving on to their next assignment. Rev. Pfleger has been at St. Sabina's for 22 years, since 1981.

What Cardinal George will do next as a result of Sharpton's appearance is unclear. He has already suggested to the media that Rev. Pfleger consider a career change. Many observers believe Pfleger is trying to provoke a showdown with the Cardinal, giving him no choice but to relieve him. Pfleger has already indicated that he would seriously consider leaving the priesthood if he were transferred from St. Sabina's. After publicity generated by Pfleger's latest stunt this weekend, the Cardinal may now be ready to take him up on his offer.

Rev. Pfleger's biography is located at St. Sabina's website, www.saintsabina.org. "As a minister, Father Pfleger has sought to break down the walls of racism and denominationalism by building unity among all people founded on truth and based on Jesus' command to love one another. This holy calling has led him to be a parent, a preacher, a teacher, a lecturer, and an activist."

St. Sabina's website describes its mission as a "word-based, Bible teaching church that believes in the power of praise and worship. We are a spiritual hospital where all are welcome and invited to 'taste and see the goodness of the Lord." Our purpose is to nurture and develop spiritually mature Christians who are not confined by the walls of the sanctuary, but can penetrate the world in order to present God's way of living as a divine option."

St. Sabina's website also includes a calendar of events, for those interested in future speakers.

[Land of the Irish]

Ping

[Loyalist]

Last year, Rev. Pfleger was given a short term extension of his term at St. Sabina's after he threatened to leave the priesthood if he was transferred from St. Sabina's.

Cardinal George should have called his bluff by offering him an upscale big-money parish.

If he had backed down, he would have been exposed as a hypocritical blowhard.

And if he hadn't, the Church in Chicago would have been no worse for his departure.