Michael Pfleger Leaving Catholic Church?

It appears that the racist pastor at St. Sabina in Chicago - Michael Pfleger - may be facing a demotion he's not prepared to take. While appearing on a radio show with Tavis Smiley and avowed Marxist Cornell West, Pfleger said he's being pushed aside to teach at a Catholic high school instead of being allowed to retain his pastor status at St. Sabina.

Via Chicago Tribune:

The Rev. Michael Pfleger, the embattled pastor of Chicago's St. Sabina Catholic Church, told radio show hosts Tavis Smiley and Cornel West this weekend that he would look outside the Catholic Church if offered no other choice but to work at a Catholic high school.

Pfleger also said on the "Smiley & West" public radio program that he had been banned from speaking at events in the archdiocese and blamed pressure from conservative Catholics and the National Rifle Association for his most recent clash with Chicago's Cardinal Francis George.

"I want to try to stay in the Catholic Church," Pfleger said. "If they say 'You either take this principalship of (Leo High School) or pastorship there or leave,' then I'll have to look outside the church. I believe my calling is to be a pastor. I believe my calling is to be a voice for justice. I believe my calling is to preach the Gospel. In or out of the church, I'm going to continue to do that."

Good riddance. Hats off to the Catholic church on this one but they should have acted much sooner. Nonetheless, if Pfleger is right about conservative Catholics leaning on the Cardinal, that may be the best part of this story.

h/t Free Republic