THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

The brothers said they were sexually abused in Pfleger's room at three churches, beginning at Precious Blood and including St. Sabina on the South Side, where the well-known priest has been assigned since his 1975 ordination.

The men, who are in their early 60s and live in Texas, said the abuse was a secret they had never revealed, not even to each other, until the younger of the two filed a complaint Jan. 4 to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago.

In early January 2021, Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich sent a letter to the St. Sabina parish stating that Pfleger would be stepping away from his ministry after being accused of sexually abusing a child more than 40 years ago, ABC 7 Chicago reported. Cupich said the allegation had not been proven true or false, so there should be no presumption of guilt or innocence.

Regarding the Tribune report, Pfleger's private legal team said the allegations are false and were made to gain a financial settlement. The younger man acknowledged that he had asked the priest in a letter to give him $20,000—but said he planned to use the payment as proof that he was abused.

No previous allegation of sexual abuse has surfaced publicly against Pfleger.

The full article is at www.chicagotribune.com/investigations/ct-pfleger-abuse-allegations-second-accuser-20210125-sh4a4khkefbrpbonxkavi35rmi-story.html .