'Snuff' the Gun Shop Owner, Priest Says
An Illinois gun-rights group says it plans to complain to the Catholic Church after a Chicago priest at the weekend appeared to call for the murder of a suburban gun shop owner.
During a Rainbow/PUSH Coalition protest at Chuck's Gun Shop & Range on Saturday, the Rev. Michael Pfleger, pastor of St. Sabina's Church, threatened to "snuff" shop owner John Riggio.
The Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) has posted online what is says is a recording of Pfleger's remarks.
In the audio clip, the priest is heard being introduced to the crowd by the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Immediately therafter, Pfleger launches into a tirade.
"I want the NRA [National Rifle Association] to understand - you have a lot of money, but money can't buy moral authority and it can't buy justice or freedom, and we will fight you, NRA," he says.
"We will fight you on every angle [sic], no matter how much money you've got, we will embarrass you, and we will embarrass every legislator that takes money from you. We will call them out by name, by district. We will expose you, legislators."
Pfleger then turns his attention to Riggio. "He's the owner of Chuck's. John Riggio. R-i-g-g-i-o. We're going to find you and snuff you out. you know you're going to hide like a rat. You're going to hide but like a rat we're going to catch you and pull you out. We are not going to allow you to continue to hide when we're here bleep"
"We're going to keep coming back, and like Reverend Jackson says, it takes civil disobedience, if it takes whatever it takes bleep, we're going to snuff out John Riggio, we're going to snuff out legislators that are voting, and we are coming for you because we are not going to sit idly. Keep on fighting, people. Keep on fighting, keep on fighting."
St. Sabina describes itself as a "Bible-teaching" African-American Catholic Church.
The day before the anti-gun protest, the church hosted former Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who was making a rare public appearance. Pfleger was quoted as describing the controversial Muslim activist as "a gift from God to a sick, sick world."
ISRA Executive Director Richard Pearson called it "shocking" to hear a priest advocate the murder of a gun shop owner "who has never committed a crime in his life."
"Pfleger's comments were disgusting and dangerous," Pearson said. "And, I seem to remember that the Fifth Commandment frowns on murdering one's neighbor," he added.
"This week, I'll be penning a letter to the Archbishop, expressing my concerns over Rev. Pfleger's comments," continued Pearson. "I would hope that the Archbishop would reply with words of comfort for Mr. Riggio, his family, state legislators, and all others who were injured by Rev. Pfleger's thoughtless, inflammatory remarks."
In a message on the church's website, Pfleger says he believes that "we are called by God to build this church in a world filled with division, alienation and racism in order that we may be a witness to the world that it is possible and that the love of God is stronger than the hate of Satan."
Rev Wright with pfleger !
The Rev. Jeremiah Wright got a raucous standing ovation when he entered Saint Sabina church on the South Side on Friday night, video from WBBM-TV showed. Members yelled Hallelujah! as Wright embraced the Rev. Michael Pfleger, Saint Sabina pastor.
The smiling Wright accepted an invitation to give the benediction at the Roman Catholic church but did not address the furor over his past sermons.
Afterward, he went into an office off the pulpit to greet audience members.
STATEMENT OF FRANCIS CARDINAL GEORGE, O.M.I.,
ARCHBISHOP OF CHICAGO
June 3, 2008
To put recent events in some perspective, I have asked Father Michael Pfleger, Pastor of St. Sabina Parish, to step back from his obligations there and take leave for a couple of weeks from his pastoral duties, effective today. Fr. Pfleger does not believe this to be the right step at this time. While respecting his disagreement, I have nevertheless asked him to use this opportunity to reflect on his recent statements and actions in the light of the Church regulations for all Catholic priests. I hope that this period will also be a time away from the public spotlight and for rest and attention to family concerns.
I hope also that the life of St. Sabinas parish may continue in uninterrupted fashion. Fr. William Vanecko, Pastor of St. Kilian%u2019s parish, will be temporary administrator of St. Sabinas and will assure the full complement of ministerial services during this period. I ask the members of St. Sabinas parish to cooperate with him and to keep him and Fr. Pfleger in their prayers. They are in mine.
Cardinal Francis George, OMI
Archbishop of Chicago
155 East Superior
Chicago, Illinois 60611
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
Apostolic Palace
VATICAN CITY
We were requesting the permanent removal of Father Michael Pfleger, from the Chicago, Il, Church of St. Sabinas USA.
For the following reasons, listed by the 1,936 signatures of this petition.
Our closing statement:
Well, I am sorry to say we lost. The Archbishop has made another bad decision for the catholic church. Fr.Pfleger was returned to St.Sabinas on June 16th, his first words... 'I'm not changing,' priest vows as suspension ends.. (comment to the Chicago Tribune)
We can expect more of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffHlGgsezyo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H11x6bMu4Y
The results of this petition with your comments were sent to the Vatican and the Archbishop.
Contact information:
The Vatican Popes email:
Cardinal Francis George, OMI
Archbishop of Chicago
155 East Superior
Chicago, Illinois 60611
312-751-8230 %u2013 Cardinal's Office Phone
312-337-6379 %u2013 Cardinal's Office Fax
312-751-8200 - Archdiocese Office Phone
vocations@archchicago.
ArchBishop overlooks child abusers and a radical, racist, pro-abortion priest
(Fr. Pfleger) and lets him stay at the same parish for over 30 years !
Even allowing Pfleger to adopt 3 little boys !
ArchBishop makes very bad decisions, he plans to reinstate Pfleger on June 16th,
inspite of a nationwide outcry.
Previous Poor Decisions made by the ArchBishop...
While ArchBishop George Francis of Chicago has had to deal with the fallout from
clergy sexual abuse cases from many years ago, he has come under fire for his
actions during a recent abuse case. George acknowledged that he had made
mistakes in the case of Rev. Daniel McCormack, who was charged with two counts
of aggravated criminal sexual abuse on January 21, 2006. It is alleged that
McCormack had abused two boys repeatedly from 2001 to 2005. Cardinal George has
faced criticism for allowing McCormack to remain at his post after allegations
first surfaced in August of 2005. McCormack was told to not have any
unsupervised contact with minors and had a personal monitor assigned to him.
Cardinal George has since indicated that had he known several months ago
what he knew now that he would have removed McCormack from his duties right
away. Cardinal George took some responsibility for the matter.
Despite claims of following the churchs' procedures for dealing with
child-molesting priests, Cardinal George made no attempt to contact the police.
It is all up to you now as individuals..I will just become another "recovering catholic."
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