Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HR0372

HR0372 LRB104 13761 LAW 26511 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to commend Father Michael Louis Pfleger for his 50 years of service as a priest, a social activist, and a fearless voice for justice and hope; and

WHEREAS, Father Pfleger has lived and ministered in the African American community on both Chicago's West and South Sides since 1968; he also worked in a Native American community in Oklahoma for two summers, and he completed his seminary internship as a chaplain at Cook County Jail and Precious Blood Catholic Church, both in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Father Pfleger became an ordained priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago on May 14, 1975; at the age of 31, he became the youngest full pastor in the diocese when he was appointed as pastor of Saint Sabina Church in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood of Chicago in 1981; and

WHEREAS, Father Pfleger has led an active and extensive ministry, seeking to break down the walls of racism and denominationalism by building unity among all people through a foundation based on truth and the tenets of his faith; he has been involved in many social issues, such as campaigns against racism, the sale of drug paraphernalia, ads and billboards that target children with alcohol and tobacco, and negative music that glorifies violence and degrades women; in the process, he has been recognized by People, Time, Ebony, Newsweek, the Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times, and he has been profiled on 60 Minutes, The Larry King Show, Nightline, and the United Kingdom's BBC, among others; and

WHEREAS, Father Pfleger has remained committed to serving the Saint Sabina Parish and the surrounding community through founding the Employment Resource Center, the Ark Youth Center, the Saint Sabina Social Service Center, the Thea Bowman Spiritual Advance Center, the Samaritan House for the Homeless, the Saint Sabina 80-unit Elders Village, and the Beloved Community, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, Father Pfleger has been the recipient of several honors, including serving twice as keynote speaker for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Service at the request of Coretta Scott King, being inducted into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia, and receiving the Keeper of the Dream Award from the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Rosa Parks Award from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Thurgood Marshall Award from the National Black Prosecutors Association, the Monsignor Egan Social Justice Award from DePaul University, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Office of Racial Justice of the Archdiocese of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Father Pfleger has continued to serve as a steadfast leader to his congregation and the greater community, celebrating his 50th anniversary as a priest by hosting a gun turn-in event, a carnival, and a food giveaway; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we commend Father Michael Louis Pfleger for his 50 years of service as a priest and his dedication to the Saint Sabina Parish, for being a beacon of hope and change for people living on Chicago's South Side, and especially for his work for victims of gun violence; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Father Pfleger as an expression of our esteem and respect.