Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago reinstates Rev. Michael Pfleger after past sex abuse allegations
The Rev. Michael Pfleger, 71, will return to his position as senior pastor of the Faith Community of St. Sabina in Chicago on June 5, according to a letter from the Cardinal Blase Cupic.
In this July 7, 2018, file photo, the Rev. Michael Pfleger, pastor of St. Sabina Catholic Church on Chicago’s South Side, speaks to protesters before marching on the Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago. In a letter written to the St. Sabina community, Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich announced Jan. 5, 2021, that he has asked Pfleger to step aside from his ministry after receipt of a sexual abuse allegation of a minor by Pfleger more than 40 years earlier. (AP Photo/Annie Rice, File)
Archdiocese investigates sexual abuse allegations against Bartlett priest
Updated 4/17/2021 7:04 PM
The pastor of a Bartlett parish has been asked to step aside from ministry after allegations of sexual abuse of a minor, according to the Archdiocese of Chicago.
The archdiocese received allegations that the Rev. Christopher Ciomek of St. Peter Damian Parish sexually abused a minor about 30 years ago, according to a letter from Cardinal Blase Cupich dated Monday.
Cupich wrote that these allegations are claims that have not been as true or false. Therefore, guilt or innocence should not be assumed.
Ciomek was ordained in 1998 and served as full-time associate pastor at St. Monica Parish in Chicago and then at St. Theresa Parish in Palatine, according to his biography on the St. Peter Damian Parish website.
JOHN BYRNE
Chicago Tribune
The pastor of a west suburban church has stepped aside due to allegations that he sexually abused a minor three decades ago, the archdiocese of Chicago has announced.
In a letter to parishioners at Saint Peter Damian parish in Bartlett, Archbishop Blaise Cupich said Father Christopher Ciomek had agreed to step aside following âallegations of sexual abuse of a minor approximately 30 years ago.â
âI have further directed Father Ciomek to live away from the parish while the matter is investigated, and he is fully cooperating with this direction,â the archbishopâs letter reads in part.
The state Department of Children and Family Services and the Cook County Stateâs Attorneyâs office have been informed about the allegations, Cupich said.
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Parishioners show support for Father Pfleger, who faces second abuse allegation
Jan 28, 2021 catholic news service
Father Michael Pfleger, pastor of St. Sabina Church in Chicago, is seen in this 2015 file photo. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago asked the priest to step aside from ministry Jan. 5, 2021, after the Archdiocese of Chicago received an allegation he sexually abused a minor over 40 years ago. (Credit: Jim Young/Reuters via CNS.)
Father Michael Pfleger, senior pastor of St. Sabina Church in Chicago, faces a second sexual abuse allegation, from the brother of the first alleged victim who came forward in early January.
WASHINGTON, D.C. Father Michael Pfleger, senior pastor of St. Sabina Church in Chicago, faces a second sexual abuse allegation, from the brother of the first alleged victim who came forward in early January.