Friday, May 30, 2008

Father Michael Pfleger: Walking the Walk of Jesus

Father Michael Pfleger called me on my cell phone a couple of weeks ago. I was busy, in the middle of something. But when he called, I stopped what I was doing to talk to him. I am not religious, but I know a true man of God when I see one. Michael Pfleger catches heat for being so direct, but I respect him a great deal. He stands tall and strong in the name of God and while there might be those who want to see Pfleger gone, the reality is that there is tremendous truth in what he says.

Anyone who sees Father Michael Pfleger's bio knows that he is serious about seeking fairness and justice in America. He not only pursues racial justice, he pursues AMERICAN justice. If Jesus were in the flesh today, he would be doing similar things. Again, this is a man who walks the walk and will go down in history as one of the greatest pastors ever.



Those who claim that Pfleger preaches hate don't know a damn thing about what hate really is. If they want to see hate, they only need to look at what their parents, grandparents and great grandparents have done to African Americans since our country was founded. The idea that fighting historical oppression is equivalent to maintaining oppression (i.e. Sean Hannity is the same as Jeremiah Wright) is not only silly, but it is quite revealing of how little racial education an individual has. A daughter who files a lawsuit against the family of the man who raped her mother and stole her belongings is not a thief and rapist herself. As Father Pfleger points out clearly, this government has benefitted from stealing from our ancestors, that is why black people have nothing: we don't own media, we don't own corporations, we don't own universities. That didn't happen overnight. It happened because of racism, and we are forced to deal with these effects every single day.

For those with open minds, I encourage you to listen to Father Pfleger. For those who don't want to listen, just continue bathing yourself in the ignorance inherited from your forefathers who also taught you to ignore the obvious about racism. God bless you Father Pfleger, you are truly my brother. Martin Luther King is smiling from beyond.



16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Pfleger is a "joke" that is NOT even funny. Pfleger is a reproach to the Catholic Church!!! He needs to get OUT of the church!!!

Anonymous said...

Father Pfleger is the only member of the Catholic church who will be respected and remembered 100 years from now. People will only remember the Pope for supporting backward policies, like not allowing women into the priesthood.

brain111 said...

I am so disgusted with Father Pfleger. He should be kicked out of the priesthood. He supposedly works to end racism. He is a racist against the whites. He claims to be an errand boy for Jesus. Jesus would never bring up the color of a person let alone mock them. I am so mad at this reverse racism I would like to email him personally. I also do not think he deserves to be called Father anymore.

Anonymous said...

Actually Brain, Jesus would fight for the oppressed and in America, he would definitely bring up color. The way ways have historically treated blacks is terrible, and they don't even have the responsibility to own up to it.

Child of the Light said...

Dear Father Pfleger
You're a Blessing to the world. God Bless You. Your message is of truth, and it lets me know that you're a child of Light. For those that have eyes will see and those that have ears will understand your message. You're the breath of fresh air that the Catholic church needs. Keep speaking truth.
Child of Light

Anonymous said...

Father Pfleger is a disgrace to the church and all that it teaches. The cheering and applauding congregants of Trinity Church clearly support his message - a message of hate and racism, lets be clear about that.

This has damaged Barack and has caused me to think twice about supporting his candidacy, many white voters will follow suit.

Barack sat in Trinity Church for 20 years and no doubt has heard, perhaps even applauded to sermons similar like Father Pfleger's most recent sermon.

Shame on you all. Father Pflger preaches hate, racism, and intolerance. The Church should ex-communicate him.

Unknown said...

How is Pfleger a racist? SOmeone demonstrate that to me? How is Wright a racist? No one has yet to demonstrate that to me. I am not a Xian but I have think about what these two men have said.

For those that challenge them, I ask what have you done for your community?

Anonymous said...

What is all the controversy about? He didn't say anything that was inaccurate, untruthful or that we didn't already know. Fr. Pfleger didn't say anything that hasn't been echoed in Black homes, churches, communities, etc.; the difference is he said it from a pulpit and it was captured on YouTube. If anyone is truly paying attention, they will see the parishoners clapping, cheering and standing to their feet in AGREEMENT.

By the way, when did white folks get so sensitive? When did they start caring what Black folks thought, felt or preached? Oh, I remember, they began caring when a Black man won the Iowa primary.

Anonymous said...

Since when is Jesus about revenge and hate? He is about salvation, love, forgiveness, those things that uplift society. I am Italian and have had to face my own discrimination, but I worked and lifted myself up without help from anyone but God. And, yes, this country needs to rise above the greed and indifference that is so rampant, but what makes anyone think they would be different under the same circumstances they accuse their neighbor of? I have no doubt Pfelger thinks he has a mission and that he has done admirable things, but he has no more right to judge than anyone else. And I don't think he can ever really admit to that. But, that is between him and God. God Bless.

Elrancho78 said...

I'm not crazy about the theatricals but that's just me. I know in America that's the way it's often done. What I do know is that he's speaking the truth. That's more than evident by all the nasty comments on here by whites. Truth is what they simply can't handle and their reaction is as predictable as ever. They've lived a lie all their lives and cannot accept the challenge of coming out of denial. I'm glad father Pfleger is there to show that not all whites are blind or afraid to speak out. There should be many more of us, both in and outside of the church.

Reno Sepulveda said...

It has become glaringly apparent thatl Trinity is nothing but a victim cult. Pfleger is a man intoxicated with his own anger and inflated sense of relevance.

Anonymous said...

I was quite amused at the man's comments and agree there is an assumption of entitlement in the liberal part of the Democratic Party. Obama's candidacy is Uppity from their point of view. Now Hillary will go off in a huff and form a third party for the Presidency and make things really interesting. McCain should announce Colin Power as his VP now along with the rest of his cabinet so we can really evaluate what kind of government we will have choices over...

Anonymous said...

If Pfleger is remembered in the future, it will be on YouTube with kids of the future laughing their butts off at his hilarious antics, and I am serious! It is sad when political correctness makes the weak tell us the Emperor isn't a fool, when he so apparently is.

Elrancho78 said...

You are a Christian...??? Sure you are.

foxxychica said...

Those people with "comments" and posting as anonymous, what a coward you are. I believe many white people are disgusted with what the good Father had to say because it is truth. The wool has finally been pulled off. The sad reality to all of this is, white people are the only ones who have gotten upset. Most Black people know what was said is true. If you are white and a part of the lower class, you have better opportunities afforded to you because of your skin color.

I am an educator who works with a group of young white teachers who believe they should get certain positions based on their skin color. I'm sorry, you have no vested interest in these you Black children from low-income areas. You're just here to get you loans forgiven and then you will run to you lily white suburbs. White America needs to wake up. Many of them will never understand what Rev. Wright and Father Mike was addressing because it does not have a direct affect on their lives.

And for the person who is professing to be a Christian and has hatred towards Father Mike and wishes him dead, you need a new Bible and a new minister to teach you the truth about salvation.

DuBois said...

In order to understand the outcry by some American citizens (Caucasian, African American, Latino, Asian and Native American)about the comments made by Catholic Priest Rev. Michael Pfleger recently, at Trinity United Church of Christ it is important to look at the historical, psychological and sociological underpinnings of "slave insolence" http://dymaxionq.wordpress.com/2008/06/06/reframing-african-slave-insolence-jeremiah-wright-us-presidential-politics-and-the-legacy-of-race-in-america/ and the use of "signifying" in African American life.

In this case, like various slavery era abolitionists, anti-slavery radicals like John Brown http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h2954.html, and modern day abolitionists like Tim Wise http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3Xe1kX7Wsc, the person speaking out on behalf of the wretched and despised happens to be caucasian.

Most people do not care if an outsider calls them a crook, pedophile or horrible person publicly. However, most of us would be mortified and deeply disturbed if a family member or close friend did so. Thus, is the problem about Rev. Michael Phleger. He has testified in court against family members