Father Michael Pfleger, a Catholic priest in Chicago known for his social justice work, has been removed from ministry pending the archdiocese’s review of accusations against him of sexual abuse.

Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, announced the investigation in a July 11 letter, saying that Father Pfleger will be removed from ministry while the archdiocese investigates the allegations.

Father Pfleger has pastored the predominantly Black parish St. Sabina, located on the South Side of Chicago, since 1981.

Cardinal Cupich noted that Father Pfleger “strongly denied the allegation” of abuse alleged to have occurred more than 30 years ago at St. Sabina.

“We do not presume the truth or falsity of an allegation until the process is complete and our Independent Review Board has made a recommendation that I accept,” Cardinal Cupich said. “Only by conducting a thorough and impartial review can we ensure fairness to all concerned.”

Cardinal Cupich said the archdiocese has reported the allegation to law enforcement and that the archdiocese takes allegations seriously.

“I want to stress that the welfare of the children entrusted to our care is our paramount concern,” Cardinal Cupich said. “The Archdiocese of Chicago takes all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously.”

Cardinal Cupich referred to the archdiocesan website for “complete information about reporting sexual abuse.”

“We appreciate the courage it takes to step forward and encourage anyone who believes they have experienced abuse or inappropriate behavior by a member of the clergy, religious, or lay employee of the archdiocese to report it to the Office for the Protection of Children and Youth,” Cardinal Cupich wrote. “They will be received with compassion and respect.”

Father Pfleger called the accusation an “absolute lie” in a statement on Facebook on July 11.

“I have no memory of this girl nor do countless others who have been at St. Sabina for those years,” Father Pfleger wrote.

Father Pfleger had previously been cleared by the archdiocese of accusations of sexual abuse by three men in 2021 and one man in 2022.

“For the 51 years of my ministry, I have been threatened, slandered, and attacked,” Father Pfleger said.

Father Pfleger criticized the archdiocese’s current policy, calling it “wrong and unfair to the accused priest.”

“The presumption of innocence does not exist for priests,” Father Pfleger said.

Father Pfleger said he has been targeted because of his social justice work.

“I get weekly hate calls and emails because of what I fight for and believe,” Father Pfleger said. “Just this past week I received numerous hate calls due to an action I took last Sunday washing the feet and apologizing to representatives of Indigenous people, Hispanics, African Americans, the LGBTQ+ community, Iranians, Venezuelans, women, and young African American males for the persecution they have suffered in America.”

He continued: “I have been under constant attack by the present administration, which I have vocally condemned as unlawful, racist, and wicked. For this I will not apologize.”

Father Pfleger has a colorful history in Chicago, leading fierce activism against drugs and guns along with outreach to prostitutes and drug dealers.

Some of the priest’s words and actions have put him at the center of controversy. The late Cardinal Francis George of Chicago suspended Father Pfleger in 2011 after the priest threatened to leave the priesthood if Cardinal George reassigned him. The cardinal later accepted Father Pfleger’s apology and reinstated him as St. Sabina’s pastor. In 2019, Cardinal Cupich publicly denounced Father Pfleger’s decision to invite Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan to speak at St. Sabina.

“I believe this is another attempt and another attack by those who have sought to destroy me for years and another attempt by someone to get money from the archdiocese and to silence me,” Father Pfleger said.

“I will not stand by and allow my name, my ministry, and the church I pastor to be slandered or defamed,” he said in his statement.

Father Pfleger did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.

In his letter, Cardinal Cupich encouraged the parish of St. Sabina, which will be pastored by Father Thulani Magwaza while Father Pfleger is under investigation.

“As your parish has been through this before, I can well understand your distress in learning of this development,” Cardinal Cupich wrote. “I appreciate your patience and ask you to recall that our process of investigation and making a determination has proven effective in protecting the rights of all.”