"It's good to be home," the 72 year old Pfleger told a raucous congregation at St. Sabina Church in Auburn Gresham.

The audience included director Spike Lee and acting Chicago Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt.

Pfleger was removed from active ministry at the Auburn Gresham parish in January after he was accused of sexually abusing a minor more than 40 years ago.

Later that month, the brother of Pfleger's first accuser came forward with his own allegations.

Then in March, a 59-year-old man came forward to bolster the brothers' claims, alleging Pfleger molested him in the rectory at St. Sabina when he was 18.

Following an investigation into the claims of child sex abuse involving the brothers, Cardinal Blase Cupich sent a letter to St. Sabina's congregation May 24 announcing the independent review board of the Chicago Archdiocese "concluded that there is insufficient reason to suspect Father Pfleger is guilty of these allegations."

Gene Hollander, the brothers' attorney, called it "unfathomable" that Pfleger was cleared to return to St. Sabina, claiming the evidence against the priest was "overwhelming."

"You had three victims attesting to sexual abuse with independent corroborating evidence,"

Hollander said on Sunday. His clients, however, still haven't decided whether to file a lawsuit.

Meanwhile, Pfleger told churchgoers he'd continue to pray for both his accusers and those who revelled in the controversy.

He claimed the "false accusations began with an extortion letter" and resulted in a traumatic whirlwind in which he was pulled away from his home and his church.

"The last five months have been a painful nightmare. They've been the most extended period of pain in my life," he said, noting there was little he could do but profess his innocence.

But on Sunday, Pfleger was reinvigorated, vowing to recommit to the community organizing and advocacy for social justice and gun violence that has made him a folk hero.

Pfleger was met with a hero's welcome, and members of the congregation were overjoyed about his return.

Joyce Matlbia, who lives in Flossmoor and has been a member of the congregation for 11 years, said it's "so awesome to have him back."

"He just cares," Maltbia said, noting that Pfleger runs a food distribution program and that St. Sabina will soon become a COVID-19 vaccination center.

"Watching him be him helps me to be a better me."

After greeting a stream of parishioners after the service, Pfleger told reporters it was "a blessing to be back and to be with people who stayed with you, walked with you, believed in you."

"I see this as coming back to begin anew," he said.

Sources

Chicago Defender

Chicago Sun Times

The Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago confirmed Chicago priest Michael Pfleger has been released and will be reinstated.

Pfleger is a nationally known activist.

Four months ago when the archdiocese asked Pfleger to step aside, his parish was told the archdiocese's Office for Child Abuse Investigations and Review had received a sex abuse allegation against Pfleger.

He was alleged to have sexually abused a minor more than 40 years ago. Three accusers ultimately came forward, with one saying he was 18 when Pfleger sexually abused him.

In a letter to the parish, Cardinal Blase Cupich said he had accepted the finding of the Office for Child Abuse Investigations and Review and the archdiocese's Independent Review Board.

A diocesan spokeswoman said the Independent Review Board's letter on its findings used the term "insufficient reason" to describe its findings.

Cupich said Pfleger's would be reinstated in his parish from this weekend.

"I have asked Father Pfleger to take the next two weeks to prepare himself spiritually and emotionally to return, realizing that these months have taken a great toll on him," Cupich said. "He has agreed to do so."

Pfleger, who is white, had fierce support from leaders and parishioners at St. Sabina, a Black church in the city's largely Black and low-income neighbourhood.

Parishioners cheered as he arrived for a news conference outside St. Sabina on Monday.

Upset by the Pfleger's removal, they had tied up the archdiocese's phone lines, held rallies, sent letters and threatened to withhold $100,000 in monthly dues.

Pfleger told the crowd that he will return to work emboldened, stronger and "more ready to fight than ever in my life", focusing on violence and inequality in their neighbourhood and Chicago.

"False accusations were put out against me … and I was immediately put out," Pfleger said.

"You're guilty until proven innocent. And it's been hell."

He thanked church leaders and parishioners for supporting him in the "most difficult and challenging time" that made him frustrated, angry, depressed and discouraged.

"I'm a man of faith, but I'm also a human being who hurts and who bleeds," he said.

"I've been discouraged at times. I wanted to give up … but I love this church too much to walk away."

Eugene Hollander, an attorney for the accusers, said his clients are considering filing a lawsuit.

Two brothers, now in their 60s, alleged in January that Pfleger groomed them as children and abused them at rectories in the Chicago area. They accused him of taking advantage of two Black boys who trusted him.

A third man later accused Pfleger of grabbing his crotch over his clothes in 1979.

In a separate review of the allegations, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services completed its own investigation in February.

It concluded there was no credible evidence of child abuse or neglect by Pfleger.

Source

• The Grio