Father Pfleger's Raging Sexism No Problem for Cardinal George

In his oh-so-mild scolding of the out-of-control Father Michael Pfleger, Chicago Cardinal Francis George, head of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, took issue with the raging priest's endorsement of a political candidate and with his horrifying racism. But George never said one word about the misogyny that came through loud and clear in Pfleger's cartoon-like caricature of a brilliant woman respected worldwide who has fought a long, hard battle for the highest office in this land.

No surprise there. George and Pfleger are leaders of a Church that blatantly, unapologetically and self-righteously discriminates against women. This is a Church that refuses to acknowledge what is literally set in stone--in frescos, mosaics and tomb inscriptions, that women were priests, deacons and bishops in the ancient Church; that forbids women to proclaim the Gospel or even preach a sermon at Mass; that sees a woman's sin, abortion, as the greatest sin of the 21st century; that continues to move priests who sexually exploit women and abandon the children they father from parish to parish; and that just this week took another step forward on this long and indefensible path by declaring all of the Catholic women who have dared to come forward to be ordained priests in irregular ceremonies--which preceded the official ordination of Episcopal women 30 years ago--to be summarily excommunicated.

In a wimpy resolution of the Pfleger matter, George said: "To avoid months of turmoil in the church, Fr. Pfleger has promised me that he will not enter into campaigning, will not publicly mention any candidate by name and will abide by the discipline common to all Catholic priests."

Regarding that last point, one has to ask Cardinal George (who by the way kept a priest pedophile in ministry two years ago after his own sex abuse committee warned him of a claim against that priest and just long enough for the priest to molest one more child, and who then fired the woman, a Catholic school principal, who blew the whistle on the pedophile): What discipline is that?

Comments

[dana94591]

I have three words Roman Catholic Church. This is the last bastion of institutional misogyny left in the world. No woman no where!!!

[nyckingpin]

I'm more surpised at the fact that a Roman Catholic priest supports a pro-choice candidate such as Obama. Times are changing indeed.

[mazlow01]

Wow was this an article on the current campaign or a hit on the Catholic church? With over billion people in the Church you are going to varying views and, shock and awe, people that are just plain bad.Why aren't the people claiming that sexism or racism is why the nomination isn't officially over, not instead talking about the issues that will affect our lives and how their candidate has the correct stance and ability. Oh thats right lets blame the bogey man in the corner.... same story as the Republicans have feed the last 7 years just a different bogey man. Ridiculous.

[tbone99]

Because if ANY institution has profited from sexism , it s the Catholic Church who sees women as no more than wombs to increase Catholic numbers .It uses women in the convents to progress their aganda at the same time it prohibits them from any upper echelon decision making in the Vatican - a basically all male country , that has shown the world what how well it regards and protects our most precious resource : our children.

[Enlightened22]

The problem with this article, as many written with the same desire to trace sexism everywhere, is the total lack of fact backing it. What was sexist about the caricature. Yes, he was making fun of her, of her arrogance, and of her rage over losing something she thought she was entitled to, while insinuating that a feeling of race superiority was at play in her reaction. But the article comes short of pointing what was really "sexist". The fact is, it was not and that's the reason the author goes at length to link it to different crimes commited by the catholics, trying to make her point (I guess) by attacking the church (or Archibishop). Really weak.

[Bobrobert]

Question.

If I am against abortions does that make me a sexist???

Take care all.

:-)

[tbone99]

Not necessarily .Do you also support financial compensation for womens domestic labor.?

[Bobrobert]

wow

Catholics are such - mean folks???

Catholics cause so much - mean spirited statements.

I think sexism, racism, religious baiting is kinda silly and has become a way to prove nothing.

This article is obviously someones excuse to know religion.

It proves that today all subjects are targets of extremists.

Have a nice day all.

:-)

[KSH]

I acutally thought his caricature was racist. And I am a Black woman. I guess I am not as feminist as I thought b/c I didn't see the misogyny.

[HarryTheHat]

Where are the remarks suggesting that Father Pfleger believes that Hillary's sense of entitlement comes from her being a woman? If they were there, surely Ms Bonavoglia would have quoted them.

Ah, but he's a Catholic priest. And therefore he must be sexist. Never mind that this is a church of a billion people and many Catholics - like myself - are in favor of female priests, married priests and contraception. A Catholic, if I am reading Ms Bonavoglia correctly, is by definition reactionary and sexist.

Never mind that Hillary (brilliant woman that she is) has pandered to whites and had her surrogate dismiss Obama as the 'black candidate'. No, it's just plain old sexism that's holding her back. Not political misjudgment, not political tactics straight from the Rove play book or transparent gimmickry such as the gas tax holiday.

Nice touch Angela to throw in pedophile priests into the mix. Completely irrelevant to an analysis of Father Pfleger's comments, but very much in keeping with the tenor of the HRC campaign which has gotten dirtier as it's gotten more desperate.

Perhaps Ms Bonavoglia would like to speak to the phenomenon of HRC supporters handing out leaflets outside the RBC meeting that repeated gossip about Obama dealing drugs in his youth and having had a gay affair.

What I don't understand Angela is why imaginary sexism exercises you, but real homophobia and caricaturing of black people as incipient drug dealers doesn't.

[whsmith]

woman are apparently immune to mockery and criticism. anything bad you say about them = sexism

[avalanch112]

Is everything that is said in regards to woman sexist now? Grow up.

[Yohomegirl]

I agree with your article. There is one point you missed. The statements this man made are not to be credited to Barack Obama. This Pfleger just took over this church, Obama hasn't been going to the church because of campaigning. This article exists because it is/was Obama's church. That is why it is in the news, and has vultures outside it. So writing this article is a way of hitting Obama unless you state that you are not trying to connect the dots that have no connection.

[KSH]

He didn't take over Obama's church. The pastor of Trinity is Rev Otis Moss Jr (I think). Pfleger was there at a conference on race.

[mamacat]

Pfleger's rant was in very bad taste.
But, after fighting dirty for so long, so often, Mr and Mrs Clinton should expect some blowback.
I have never seen Obama resort to the mudslinging of either the Clinton or McCain camps.

[McPander]

He's a Catholic Priest....­yes he is sexist....­.what is your point?....­.is this news?....I think that has been established along time ago

[paganmist]

You know.

I think if a male candidate had behaved the way Hillary's behaved this election, Father Plfelfgldl­dlflereler­e would've probably said the same thing, AND done the same boo-hoo crying routine.

[KSH]

I agree.

[AntonBursch]

It was incredibly stupid and thoughtless and childish for him to mock Hillary from the pulpit at Obama's church.

That said, Hillary publicly mocked Obama and then said "if you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen".

"and the skys will open, and light will come down..."

remember?