Letter of the day: Pfleger and the AWOL cardinal
Thankfully, not everyone in Chicago is a fan of racial demagogue Rev. Michael Pfleger’s “flair”– or of the Catholic Church’s lack of backbone in dealing with the rogue priest. Reader Michael Hall e-mails:
Michelle,
I have known Mike Pfleger for a long time. My brother-in-law was in the seminary with him and Mike baptized my nephew in a backyard baptism years ago. Mike used to come to my wife’s family home for dinner years back.
Mike was always the kid that was picked on when he was young. He was a strange egg then and my bro-in-law took him home on weekends mostly because he felt sorry for Mike during the seminary years.
Since then I have battled Mike several times. I was the president of the athletic committee of one of the schools that voted down allowing St. Sabina into the SouthSide Catholic conference. The REAL reason they were voted down was because they did not want to abide by the rules of the conference. They wanted changes made or they would not agree to play. They suddenly went to the press and through out the race card when they were not voted in.
Shortly after this, I received a call from Cardinal George. He asked that we re-vote and asked that they be allowed to play. He said he will personally oversee the rules issues and he would be sure that it will have a positive result for both sides. So I met with my board and persuaded them to vote with the Cardinal’s oversight and they did, as did the other 19 parishes. Cardinal George was even present for one of our called meetings and again re-iterated that he will make things right. The problem was that George then did a huge disappearing act. He NEVER mediated the rules issue thus caused St. Sabina to withdraw from the conference. (Sounds like a familiar pattern with George.)
Later another battle with Mike Pfleger ensued when a friend of mine, John Riggio, who years ago inherited his father’s LEGAL business of selling guns. Mike Pfleger wanted to and still wants to close him down. John never ever sold an illegal gun in his life, and is VERY cautious on who is allowed in his shop and buys guns. Much of his business is law officers. John always says, ‘I don’t sell or approve the sale of guns.’ The government does, as much processing and background checks are made before a sale can be consummated.
Mike Pfleger stood on private property next to John’s gun shop and shouted, “John Riggio, were going to snuff you out.” You can imagine the shock that John’s supporters heard from inside the store. Here is a man of the cloth, a Catholic Priest, announcing that he is going to kill someone because he runs a legal business! Now we can all assume that Mike did not REALLY say that to REALLY kill John, but how did his flock take this? How do we know that one of his followers took this to mean just what he said? That was John['s] real fear, but of [course] the press doesn’t care about John or his family.
I was there at John’s shop when Mike was arrested with Jesse Jackson a couple weeks later. On a side note, Jesse was arrested with $35,000 in his pocket. I saw him try to hand off a wad of cash at the store but the police said he can’t. I later heard it was over 35K. What was he doing with this money? Opening up a gun safety school? Again, everyone in the press is afraid to make mention of this excessive cash issue. Anyway, there was Mike who arrived with about 8 supporters and about 15 press people and cameras. There were over 150 supporters in John’s store, myself included. I saw Mike and his handful of supporters stand right in front of John’s door and signaled his supporters to let the camera man in toward him. When the stage was set, he started yelling. What a joke it was! John asked if Mike and Jackson wanted to come in and he can show them how the store operated, which was much stricter than the big box stores selling guns. They refused, and rather stand and block the entrance.
Once again the cardinal vanished from all of this. The truth is, he is afraid of Mike Pfleger. Mike finally has the stage that for years was undermined by his peers. He has his supporters in the church and many non-supporters outside the church, (both black and white). Mike learned how to coax money out of politicians and big businesses to flourish his parish. For that I commend him. During one visit, I saw huge stacked boxes of Wilson athletic gear at St. Sabina that they told me was all donated. As an athletic director, I was envious, yet glad that they got this.
The reality is that Mike is fake and still looking for attention that he thrived for all his life. Mike was ridiculed as a kid, ridiculed in the seminary and found his stage at St. Sabina. His is preaching just what his flock wants to hear. He is playing to them and they like it. (Just look at them in the videos) Mike may or may not agree with what he is saying, but hits a nerve with his followers. This latest is nothing compared to his weekly broadcast that he has/had on-line during his Sunday services over the years. During my athletic battles with him, I listened in on a few of these “sermons” and got totally disgusted with what he was saying to his parish. It sounded more like a cult and not a Catholic mass! He would preach hate, and distrust. He would condemn the whites and portray the whites as “inherited all the wealth”. Back then I wondered what would happen if I walk in during all this. Would I be sacrificed as the big evil?
Mike is totally delusional. He likes to take the stage and fire up his flock. It is not Catholic. It is not biblical. It is fire and brimstone on all that don’t agree. He must be removed by the cardinal. It’s time that George stops disappearing and start to take charge. If not, then he needs to takes a leave of absence as well!
Michael Hall
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I wonder if THIS is the man Obama used to know?
Scam artists. I knew money would come into the picture somewhere.
What’s wrong with carrying $35k or any amount of money? Not a damn thing.
khan, vow of poverty ring any bells? I is probably nothing but I am not suprised money showed up. cha ching!!!
Vow of poverty? Give me a break. That isn’t a crime.
It’s Father Coughlin. I’m not going his way.
so khan … do you walk around with thousands of dollars in your pocket? … just wondering …
It’s obvious Jessie was there wanting to buy a “nine”.
Maybe he was going to try to add some “grease” to get the wheels of gun registration to trun a little bit faster.
khan, no its not a crime. In fact preists carry large amounts of cash arround all the time /sarcasm off
It’s none of your business whether I do or not, and it’s none of your business if someone else does or doesn’t. Nor is it the government’s business. I don’t like Jesse Jackson, but it isn’t about him; it’s about people insinuating that there must be something illegal going on. It’s the path to further erosion of rights. Should it be the government’s business if i do decide to deposit $10k into my bank account? Hell, no. There is no reasonable suspicion that a crime was committed.
Two questions about this ‘completely legitimate’ roll of bills:
1) Why was Rev Jackson trying to get it out of his possession at the time of his arrest?
2) How many federal agencies have red flags on anything above $10,000?
Reread the letter, sonofy; it was Jackson, not Pfleger. Regardless, it wouldn’t matter if it were Pfleger.
The reality is that Mike is fake and still looking for attention that he thrived for all his life. Mike was ridiculed as a kid, ridiculed in the seminary and found his stage at St. Sabina.
If Mike Pfleger truly knows God (I suspect he doesn’t) then he should worry more about what God thinks than what other people think.
His is preaching just what his flock wants to hear. He is playing to them and they like it.
He is supposed to be preaching what God wants to say, not what the congregation wants to hear.
Thus, I feel he doesn’t really know God.
#11:
1) probably because of the sticky fingers during processing?
2) whatever that number (x), is x too many.
$35,000 in his pocket? wtf.
Keeping Pfleger is a business decision. The Catholic church knows it could never get the following in that part of Chicago without some low-budget religious Vanilla Ice wannabe there to call white people the devil. And since those qualities are so rare….
khan, oh that makes it alright lol.
@khan:
Absolutely, there is nothing wrong with carrying $35,000 in cash–in your pocket. While you’re at it, could you spare me some change!
Shakedown money?
The Catholic Church is going to rot from within if it doesn’t start getting rid of rogue priests such as this. Pfleger is not preaching God’s Word. Pfleger has stayed in this parish longer than he should and needs to be removed.
Does the Catholic Church not care for its sheep? Where is Jesus in all this?
OMG Here we go with the cops are the bad guys. Is that what you got from this thread? Someone (a cop with sticky fingers) was going to take Je$$ie Jack$on’s money?
WOW – just WOW.
Now I feel bad for Pfleger, I was picked on too as a kid, I was such a geek. sigh…
Play me the world’s smallest violin.
Bush did it.
There is nothing illegal, per se, with carrying large amounts of cash. But it certainly creates an appearance of impropriety.
Who in their right mind carries that amount of cash on them in this day and age? I am fairly certain that Jesse did not travel to Chicago with that much money on his person – it would surely set off some alarm bells in Airport Security if it was detected.
One of the issues this raises (ONE of many) is where did Jesse get that amount of cash? Was this his fee paid by Phfleger out of the Sunday collection baskets? Having Jesse there would surely send the media interest up a notch or two. And cash is very difficult to trace when trying to establish one’s income level.
And who on Earth carries such large amounts of cash with them? Drug dealers? Mob collectors? Pimps? See a pattern here? I would guess that not many men with the title of “Reverend” would have a wad that large for flash money.
#17: no, it dispels your silly notion of “vow of poverty” and your misidentification.
The question is begged not because he had the money, but why he was trying to get rid of it once it was found. If you had $35,000 of your own money in your pocket because you were on the way to deposit it, would you try to give it to someone else?
Maybe Jessie was just getting ready to get some gas?
khan, thats right because only catholics take vows of poverty right? Why are you trying to defend these frauds? I don’t care which one was carrying the cash.
#21:
oh, christ. don’t pretend it doesn’t happen. and fwiw, i have family members who are NYPD cops and NY firemen. i’ve heard plenty of stories.
i guarantee you if i had $35k in my pocket, i wouldn’t want it to be processed, either.
#24: i strongly disagree with you.
as for “flying in to chicago”…isn’t jesse from chicago?
Assuming Jackson had 35k in hundred dollar bills and the average thickness of a bill is 0.0043″ the wad of cash in his pocket 1.5″ thick, assuming it’s folded over it’s 3″ thick.
#28: i’m not defending Jackson or Pflegler (there’s another instance of your poor reading comprehension). if it makes you feel any better, substitute your grandmother’s name in Jackson’s place. I’m defending the right of people to carry whatever amount of money they wish without being accused of wrongdoing, either by the ignorant public or by government.
Is that a blanket disagreement or is there a particular object of your disagreement?
We are all entitled to our own opinions, but you provide little insight into the basis for your objection. Is there a particular rationale in play here, or do you merely find the notion that Jackson could be bought objectionable as a matter of principle?
khan, I don’t know why you brought up $10,000, but I’ll bet if you deposit $35,000 in CASH into your account, your account would be red-flagged. Anyone here who works in a bank and can verify? Isn’t there a cutoff for the amount of cash that can be deposited, unnoticed?
No, it is Chris. I heard man causes global warming so, what is your point.
I seem to recall a news story in Ney York City where a wallet was brought to a police officer to see if it would be returned. Police officers returned it with the money in tact 100% of the time.
For you to imply that a police officer would try to take $35 large (especially since it was Jerk$on’s) and be able to get away with it is absurd and should lead you to prayer.
Well, why not then not questions someone’s motive for carrying an incendiary device. Afterall….they may want to light their cigarette.
whoozit–
Kind of off topic, since it doesn’t deal with cash but rather just with suspicious transfers, but that’s actually how Elliot Spitzer got nicked.
He tried wiring ahead a fee to the madam of his whorehouse, and then realized that he had screwed up and sent her a big transfer that would get flagged. So he called back and tried to get it broken up into smaller payments, which caught the bank’s attention that he might have been up to something funny.
Not every Catholic diocese refuses to do the right thing.
Kansas City Archbishop Naumann affirms his directive that Kansas Governor Sebelius not present herself for communion because of her support for abortion.
#32:
It’s a blanket disagreement. Almost like your blanket description that the only people who carry large sums of money are criminals.
And there is absolutely nothing wrong with Rep. Jefferson (D-LA) having $90,000 in “cold, hard cash” in his freezer, either….
I’m defending the right of people to keep whatever amount of money they wish in a freezer without being accused of wrongdoing, either by an ignorant blogger or by government.
/sarc
#33: because 10k is the amount at which it’s reported. it is the cutoff you’re asking about.
#34: you’re right; there are no dirty cops. there isn’t a single cop in this country who would entertain the notion of peeling off a few hundred and acting on it. evidence (drugs, money, etc.) never disappears from the stacks. so your example is about wallets being found and turned in. where is your example of people/criminals being processed?
khan, its not about the money, its about a “man of god” carrying arround 35k. If you want to carry arround 35k, good on you, but why is a so called “man of god” carrying arround 35k. This isn’t a personal rights issue, which is where you are getting confused. Either one of those “gentleman” carrying that much money is a strong indication of hypocracy on thier part. If you can’t get that because of your private crusade about a persons right to carry ungodly lumps of unmarked bills in thier pocket, they the problem is yours not mine. The whole thread was about Pfleger and jackson and NOT personal rights. So stop trying to project your own agenda on what I was saying.
Only Jesse Jackson would be brave enough to carry that much money in Chicago. I won’t even go to Chicago let alone take money up there.
#39: police/fbi were conducting an investigation into fraud. there was suspicion that a crime had been committed.
there is no justifiable suspicion that a crime was committed just because a race pimp (or anyone else) had $35k in their pocket.
I was being sarcastic, dolt.
#3 khan said:
Like your own answer, “not a damn thing.”
But it does remind me of what I have read in the past, that Jesse doesn’t march until he gets his fee. So I wouldn’t be surprised if that was his fee that day. It is unusual to be walking around Southside with 35 large in cash though, don’t you think? That probably means many different things in that particular neighborhood.
From the letter:
That’s sad, and I’m not surprised. Many “peace-n-justice” types that I have known and met were given the short end of the stick on the playground.
The kids who didn’t have the means to fight back were usually the strange ones later in life. I wonder if this personality comprises a large sector of the anti-war crowd today?
I see. I stand corrected. All cops are bad as you first pointed out. My bad.
#41: it absolutely is a personal rights issue. it’s none of my business or yours. hypocrisy, as much as you may wish it to be, is not a crime.
Yes, clearly I said, “all cops are bad”. rolley eyes, yourself.
Yes, and it’s too bad ignorance isn’t painful
Referring to my post #37, and the Archbishop of Kansas City doing the right thing- it is my understanding that the diocese are autonomous, and answer only to Rome. Kansas City has it right.
I spent a few years in the Boston area, and it is my understanding that the Kennedy family are big financial supporters of the Archdiocese there. Especially after the previous Archbishop, Cardinal Law, chose to ignore the homosexual priests moleting teen boys (few of the priests were true pedophiles, rather, they were pederasts), the Archdiocese is in a bit of a money crunch. So no directive to cafeteria Catholics like Kennedy or Kerry to cool it on supporting baby murder.
Of course, some of the bishops were appointed decades ago, during the time when ‘liberation theology’ was popular, and have outright sympathy for Democrats. It is my sincere hope that as these bishops retire, more devout and serious men will be selected to replace them.
kahn: The Patriot Act 2001 – requiring businesses, which were only to report cash transactions
involving more than $10,000 to the IRS, to file SARs as well;
Because it is suspicious behavior!
#51:
i am entirely opposed to the patriot act.
Does anybody really believe that Jesse Jackson is a man of God in anything but title. He was a civil rights leader, and as African-Americans have achieved true legal equality in this country, his mission has devolved into race baiting, concentrated on the pockets of urban America where LBJ’s ‘Great Society’ has created a culture of fatherless families with a culture of victimization.
Does Jackson have a church? Does he preach the Gospel? Does he seek to spread love and forgiveness?
Rev Jackson:
So nice to see you here on MM’s site!
You may want to get to the eye doctor, though. I could not find where I said that the only people to carry large sums of money were criminals.
But, the sad fact is that the majority people who carry such large sums have received that money in a somewhat suspect manner.
And you may want to consider WHY the law requires reports on large currency transactions. Unfortunately, Rev. Jackson, you have been very effective in combating otherwise legitimate investigation techniques that invlove any kind of profiling. It is racist, you see, to do so.
So, the government needed to come up with an objective way to try to catch criminals that did not involve profiling. Unfortunately, the invariable result is that it throws the net a bit wider than necessary, so as to not discriminate against a protected class. Yes, innocent people who have no relation to any nefarious activity are red flagged for investigation by the feds, all in the interest of non discrimination. We have to shake down 90 year old grandmothers at the airports as well just to pass the test of impartiality. Can’t focus on any one group who, say, has comprised 100% of terrorists using air transportation as a weapon or bargaining chip, since this would not be politically correct.
But I am sure you understand all that, and find it an acceptable price to pay in the interest of political correctness.
Again, Rev. Jackson, thanks for stopping by. I know how busy things must be in the shakedown racket, so it means a lot to us for you to take the time to join us.
I’ll bet you are.
No surprise there …
*shocked look* Nooooo…
Whatever. All in all, the man needs to be defrocked from the Catholic church, simply because of his “blasphemy” against the church doctrine. He isn’t preaching the Word. He is preaching his own word, and looking to gain power to fill a delusional life. I wonder who he prays to, when he does pray? Seems to me his soul is quite corrupted.
Well, I would have never guessed.
#54:
I doubt any of you could guess the reason why, though.
Yes, all of that sacrificing liberty for the sake of security nonsense. I mean, who cares if innocent, law-abiding people are subject, even if there is no reasonable suspicion that a crime was committed or that one was about to be committed?
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/jun/06/court-rules-for-defendants-on-money-laundering/
In two decisions _ one a 5-4 split, the other unanimous _ the justices found that money laundering charges apply only to profits of an illegal gambling ring and cannot be used when the only evidence of a possible crime is when someone hides large amounts of cash in his car when heading for the border.
The government brings money laundering cases against more than 1,300 people annually and the justices appeared to agree with defense lawyers who said government prosecutors have been stretching the bounds of the law. The Justice Department drew little sympathy from Justice Antonin Scalia.
OK, let’s stir up the pot a little. Khan, you seem to be under the impression that somewhere we citizens of the United States have been granted the right to be free from suspicion, or accusation in all our actions. Let me ask you this: How do police capture criminals? They first suspect that a crime was committed; then they investigate the crime and potential criminal; then they accuse the defendant of a crime; then guess what happens??? There is a jury trial of ones peers to determine if the suspicion and accusation were correct.
Now with that said I must assume you are one that is against profiling. I make that assumption because you are using the same made up right of freedom from suspicion and accusation that anti-profilers do. Sorry but until the freedom from suspicion ACT is passed I don’t buy it.
Jesse:
May I call you Jesse, or do you prefer to remain on a more formal basis and go by Rev Jackson?
The reason why for what? Are you perhaps referring to a justification form jumping to a conclusion? I was using the examples that the federal government used in getting the laws passed on currency transaction reporting. Like I said, if we just focus on cash amounts and do not base that on any other factors such as those that might be developed in a criminal profile, we have a law that meets the standards of political correctness.
Jesse, it is wonderful having you participate here. It really provides much useful insight into the basis of so many of your positions.
Thanks again!
#63:
No, that is an incorrect assessment.
There has to be suspicion that a crime was committed or that one is about to be committed. In your case, a crime has been committed. The police cannot just pull you over and demand to see your drivers license because they want to or to just check to see if you are a licensed driver. There has to be reasonable cause. Some states allow people to openly carry firearms. A policeman cannot ask for ID or for one’s LTC permit solely because they are carrying. There is NO reasonable suspicion a crime was or is being committed.
You assume incorrectly again.
Khan #62
I don’t believe that Jesse was just walking down the street when a cop asked him “is that was a wad of cash in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?” . Jesse was arrested FIRST. BEFORE the cash was found on him. So obviously he was not one of the “innocent, law-abiding people” you speak of here.
To say that a man arrested for a crime can NOT fall under suspicion of any other crime at the time of his arrest is just crazy.
You suggested that there was going to be a theft. That implies that there is not a cop who would not pinch a little off the top and you came right out and said so yourself:
Again, if all you got out of this letter and thread is the bad guys are the cops because they will pinch Je$$ie’s loaf, you need to go back and read the thread.
P.S. Je$$ie is the one who extorts money.
This thread is not about carrying cash around! It should be about getting rid of Mike and George!
sambo bringing it home!
#66:
Yes, Jesse was arrested FIRST; but he wasn’t arrested BECAUSE he was carrying $35k. Having $35k in one’s pocket doesn’t make one a criminal, no matter what the letter-writer tries to insinuate: “What was he doing with this money? “
That $35,000 Jesse had was probably “walking around money”. Former IL Gov. George Ryan did this all the time. He’d distribute $ to individuals in exchange for favors. (He is now in prison for doing this.) This kind of money also flows on Election Day.
On a different note, Father Pfleger would probably be more comfortable at an African Methodist Episcopal church. Why doesn’t he join them?
#67:
not that there was going to be a theft, but because there might be.
you might want to go back and read that full passage, since I was being sarcastic. you left an important bit out that provides context.
Yeah, sure.
That removed ALL doubt you were being sarcastic. You lumped all cops together as crooks and I took issue with it and I see I was not alone. I also take issue with your thread-jack.
Off topic but some of you can relate. It is really really hard to fix a computer when the dumbass customers refuse to logoff.
/vent off.
Jackson and Pfleger were at a private, legal place of business with the full intent of obstructing the operation of that business. They purposely put themselves in an adversarial position and intended to cause harm, thus they should not be surprised when others view them with suspicion.
We all have great freedom in this country but with that comes the responsibility to conduct ourselves in a respectable manner and those that don’t do that run the risk of losing their freedoms.
#73: I did not lump all cops in as crooks. and that isn’t the part i was being sarcastic about. i was talking about the second part you quoted. good grief.
As for “thread jacking”…I was the third post, and I wasn’t the first to bring up money. Take your “thread jack” accusation elsewhere.
What really saddens me is that the Catholic Church was hijacked by leftist priests in the 50’s and 60’s, and those priests then are the bishops and cardinals of today. The U.S. Council of Bishops breaks with the Vatican on so many issues. It’s sort of like what happened to the Democrat Party in 1968.
The numbers of Catholics in America is increasing yearly due to the arrival of immigrants, mostly from Mexico. However, many white Americans are leaving the church for right-of-center evangelical churches.
The Vatican II council did to the Catholic Church what Admiral Zumwalt did to the Navy.
Word on the street–according to Huggy Bear–is that da Jesster planned to buy a set of these for li’l Mikey P.
Peace, out.
Not true. Pfleger himself came from neighboring “Tommy” More parish, there are THRIVING Catholic parishes and schools all around, which even us white suburbanites send our kids to.
79th street is a cornucopia of religion with storefront churches four to a block all the way down to the Nation of Islam headquarters on the east end of the street.
Every Mass we stand and recite the Nicene Creed, which does NOT include a declaration of allegiance to Fr Pfleger. What’s there to be afraid of by dumping him? God is quite capable of moving men’s hearts to continue to worship Him around 79th & Racine.
This reminds me of a punchline I heard years ago.
” The preacher proclaimed, “Throw your money to the ceiling. That which sticks is yours that which falls to the floor is the Lord’s.”
It’s amazing what people will do when they are totally energized and controlled by a speaker.
Fr.(?) Faker and Rev(?) Jackson are not the only ones. Some of these preachers on television are fleecing their flocks and convincing their flocks of the most amazing things. I know from personal experience. My mother was duped for decades by one. She sent in a large portion of her social security check to one of these guys. Every time he asked for money on television, she sent a check.
She believed everything they said and spent hours everyday praying to the television set.
Sad.
Interesting…
Apparently Obama had a Catholic Advisory Council which quietly dissolved itself:
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MTkzYzFmM2JjZmJlNzljMTlmYTk1MDMyNzA3NTYxMzQ=
Hey stop calling Pfleger Vanilla Ice, that’s an insult to Ice Baby.
Pleger should be defrocked–very simple.
This man is a poor representation of Jesus and a Christian as is Wright. But Wright and Jackson are all self proclaimed “Reverends”. But a Priest??
Does Chicago make their own rules? They gave Pfleger a time out? and how is it that he has adopted kids? He’s a Priest, right?
Sorry, Chicago, sounds like not my kind of town.
Kahn….is your first name Genghis?
So you have relatives that are a NYPD cop and a firefighter……..I’ll bet you have at least one white friend too don’t you?
‘Cause then we would know that you couldn’t a racist either.Snark….
How much does BHO pay you to shill here?
Oh wait…I get it, you aren’t really an “employee” of his…kinda like his “vetters”……..