Cardinal George finally said something about Fr. Pfleger, who called for people to “snuff out” a gun store owner — to the public but not to Pfleger. 

He called Pfleger’s call to action at an anti-gun rally “[betrayal of] the civil order and . . . morally outrageous,” which is tough talk in some circles but sure to make no difference.  (full statement below)

He didn’t even tell Pfleger personally, says P., and oh my, does that not say volumes about the state of holy obedience in the archdiocese.  Nor did any of his aides on Superior Street, including his chancellor, Jimmy Lago, who calls the shots anyway, says Tom Roeser.

Pfleger continues to say he didn’t know what “snuff” means in his neighborhood, which is extremely odd.  In fact, it’s very hard to believe.  Not quite impossible but very, very, VERY hard.

The Sun-Times religion writer, having ignored the matter until George issued a statement (give G. credit, he got this in the Sun-Times but couldn’t make it into Chi Trib, which remains above the fray), cited “several of the archdiocese’s priests [who] said privately they were baffled by the cardinal’s statement.”

Oh?  In what respect?  Baffled?  Religion reporter Susan Hogan-slash-Albach is apparently also baffled but does not exercise her journalistic right or fulfill her obligation to inquire further.

She does, however, immediately note that George’s spokeswoman, Colleen Dolan, “said the cardinal wasn’t bowing to pressure from members of gun associations.”  Oh?  Someone said that? 

I’d prefer to think he’s bowing to pressure from Tom Roeser.

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On Saturday, May 26, 2007, during an anti-gun rally at a Riverdale gun shop, Fr. Michael Pfleger, pastor of St. Sabina parish, reportedly made aggressive and inappropriate statements threatening the store’s owner.

If the comments reported are accurate, and a threat was made, it is up to the civil authorities to investigate the matter and determine what if any action should be taken against Fr. Pfleger.

Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago, stated, “publicly delivering a threat against anyone’s life betrays the civil order and is morally outrageous, especially if this threat came from a priest. It is first of all up to the civil authorities to determine what threat might have been contained in the remarks attributed to Fr. Michael Pfleger. With that determination, the sponsors of the anti-gun rally and the Archdiocese can better decide how to respond.”

— from Archdiocese at its site as of 6/10/07