"The Church has lost a wonderful priest and bishop today and I lost a dear friend and valued colleague," Cardinal Cupich said in a statement. "From the start of his ministry, Bishop Kevin Birmingham was a devoted and joyful priest. He felt
Father Michael Pfleger, 73, has been reinstated as senior pastor of the Faith Community of St. Sabina after the Chicago Archdiocese's Independent Review Board determined the accusations of sex abuse lodged against him in October are not credible.
The board "has concluded that
Father Michael Pfleger, a popular Chicago priest and outspoken advocate against gun violence, gangs, poverty and racism, has stepped aside from his ministry after the Chicago Archdiocese said it received an allegation that the priest had sexually abused a minor more than
Father Andrew Liaugminas of the Archdiocese of Chicago, has been appointed to serve as an official for the doctrinal section of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
The 37-year-old priest will serve with the congregation for five years and will
Chicago Cardinal Blase J. Cupich announced May 24 he is reinstating Father Michael Pfleger as senior pastor of the Faith Community of St. Sabina a "thorough review" showed "insufficient reason" to suspect the priest is guilty of abuse allegations made against him.
His
Pope Francis has named as auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of Chicago two archdiocesan priests and a Franciscan friar who has been serving in the archdiocese since 2005.
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Edward K. Braxton of Belleville, Illinois, and has appointed Father Michael G. McGovern, a pastor in the Archdiocese of Chicago, as his successor. Bishop Braxton, who has headed the Belleville Diocese since 2005, turned