CHICAGO (IL)
Chicago Tribune
August 27, 2026
By Jeffery M. Leving
The good news is that for the fifth time since 2021, the Rev. Michael Pfleger, pastor at St. Sabina Catholic Church in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood, has been cleared of any wrongdoing, after being accused of sexual abuse earlier this summer.
The Archdiocese of Chicago issued this announcement in a Monday news release. I expected nothing less. Pfleger has vehemently denied any wrongdoing each time an allegation was brought, and each time, he has been cleared after an investigation, making him perhaps the most investigated priest in the archdiocese’s history.
I must ask: As things stand now with the archdiocese, has anything been done to ensure that frivolous allegations cannot be lodged, which force Pfleger to be sidelined while they are investigated?
Some may believe multiple allegations over time equate to something of substance. I implore these people to realize that each time an allegation has been made, Pfleger has been extensively investigated and cleared. At this point, I wonder if the accusers may have an ulterior motive and whether the archdiocese should consider investigating them.
More important than that, however, the archdiocese needs to change how it handles accusations. Yes, each allegation needs to be taken seriously and investigated, and accusers should be heard and should not be shamed. However, this is 2026, and the pendulum has swung too far. Allegations now receive the consideration they deserve, but sadly, in some cases, mere allegations may be perceived by some as a finding of guilt.
I know the impact of this type of ordeal because I have defended multiple clients over the years who were falsely accused of abuse. Even though they were ultimately cleared, it takes a huge toll and affects their reputation no matter the result.
Pfleger is aware that his fearlessness in criticizing mayors, presidents or church leaders while speaking out and standing up against gun violence and social injustice has made him a target among some who do not agree with him. However, disagreement over his politics or the way he brings attention to uncomfortable topics does not make him a child abuser.
It’s also important to realize that with someone well-known like Pfleger, the magnifying glass is larger. Notably, the allegations often make front-page news, but the exoneration gets less press, leaving many with the false impression that he must be guilty.
Pfleger himself and his parishioners, the vast majority whose support has not wavered, have tried to make this point to the archdiocese. They did so in a July letter urging the archdiocese to update its policies. They specifically object to the public announcement of an allegation and the automatic removal of a priest from ministry before any investigation has taken place.
In their letter sent to church leadership, they call it “unjust and unnecessary,” particularly in cases in which the alleged abuse occurred more than a decade ago and the accused has not faced any allegations of misconduct in the intervening years. That is the case with each allegation that Pfleger has faced.
I believe, as the St. Sabina community does, that allegations of abuse should be fully and fairly investigated. I also believe, as these parishioners do, that the current process is unfair. There appears to be nothing stopping someone else from bringing a new allegation tomorrow or the next day or the day after that, forcing Pfleger and his flock to undergo another investigation that forces him from his ministry for months at a time.
This is wrong and needs to change.
Attorney Jeffery M. Leving is a specialist in fathers’ rights.
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