USA Today Has More on Father Pfleger

Ken Dilanian at USA Today has more on the Rev. Michael Pfleger. Dilanian reports that “the left-leaning Chicago Catholic priest who ridiculed Hillary Rodham Clinton this week in a racially-charged speech from the pulpit of Barack Obama's church, has contributed to Obama's state Senate campaigns, backed his ill-fated run for Congress and stumped for him in Iowa.”

Dilanian goes on to say:

“The episode has become fodder for right-wing bloggers and commentators, who call it the latest example of Obama's association with extremist views. Pfleger is a longtime Obama supporter who, until recently, served on a Catholics for Obama committee. Pfleger embraced the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama's longtime pastor, even after Wright's controversial comments led the Democratic presidential candidate to disavow him.”

Additionally, Dilanian reports:

“Obama's spokesman, Ben LaBolt, was unable to say when Obama last spoke to Pfleger. LaBolt said Pfleger stepped down from the Catholics for Obama committee a few weeks ago, but he could not say why.

“He confirmed that Obama steered a $100,000 state grant in 2000 to a Pfleger-affiliated community program.

“Pfleger contributed $1,500 to Obama's state Senate campaigns from 1995-2001, Illinois records show.

“In 1999, Pfleger broke with many of Chicago's Democrats and supported Obama in his losing attempt to unseat U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush.

“Last year, Pfleger invited the Rev. Louis Farrakhan to speak at his church, St. Sabina, which encompasses a large, inner city African American parish.

‘“In response to the latest flap, Colleen Dolan, a spokesman for Cardinal Francis George's office told the Chicago Sun-Times: ‘The cardinal has made it clear to Father Pfleger in the past on more than one occasion that it's inappropriate to speak about political issues from the pulpit and that his own personal opinions are his own personal opinions.”’

Once can only conclude from watching the video of Pfleger’s tirade last Sunday, that many in the Trinity UCC congregation share the priest’s opinions; they rose from their seats repeatedly to applaud and shout their approval.