Free Republic

So much that you need to know about the Catholic Church’s social policy problems can be summed up in one word: Chicago. On race, abortion, guns, immigration and “community organizing,” Catholic Church officials in the Windy City have forged unholy alliances with radical left-wingers and enablers who undermine the faith—and the faithful. Exhibit A: the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office for Racial Justice and one of its most notorious priests, the Rev. Michael Pfleger. This week, Chicago Cardinal Francis George—who also happens to be president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops—presided over a gala ceremony honoring Pfleger with a “lifetime...

Rev. Michael Pfleger has scheduled Rev. Al Sharpton to preach at St. Sabina Church Sunday, says Kup (Chicago Sun-Times, 2/4/03) and Sun-Times religion writer Cathleen Falsani on 2/5/03. Rev. Sharpton -- presidential candidate and Pentecostal minister ordained at age 10 in 1964 -- and Marxist, black-focused academic Cornel West, who speaks at St. Sabina Friday night, are not expected "to contradict [parishioners'] beliefs as Christians," Fr. Pfleger told Falsani. Rather, they are to "cause [them] to think out of the box, ask the difficult questions and wrestle with the answers." The two were invited to publicize "poverty and homelessness and...

Cardinal wants to sell Chicago mansionFrom the National DeskPublished 5/21/2002 11:23 AMCHICAGO, May 21 (UPI) -- Chicago's Catholic archbishop has proposed selling his landmark 120-year-old mansion to help financially struggling church schools. The palatial three-story red brick mansion, nicknamed the House of 19 Chimneys because of its numerous fireplaces, has been the official residence of Catholic bishops since 1885. But Cardinal Francis George said his vow of poverty conflicts with living in a building worth between $12 million and $20 million.George, 65, suggested selling the Gold Coast property last weekend at the ordination mass for 11 priests. He said he...