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CHICAGO, February 11, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Catholic priest who invited Rev. Al Sharpton, the pro-abortion black racist demagogue and Democratic presidential hopeful, to attack President Bush from the pulpit of a Catholic Church, has a new ally: Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.  Despite Cardinal Francis George’s reservations about Fr. Michael Pfleger’s invitation to Sharpton to speak at St. Sabina’s Catholic Church last Sunday, Mayor Daley, described by media as “a devout Catholic” because he takes Sundays off, cited the First Amendment right to freedom of speech.  “He talked about issues of the economy. He talked about the issue of unemployment, things like that. There’s a word you use all the time. It’s called free speech. … I respect church-based organizations. You can interpret it a different way. But still, you have a right under the Constitution to free speech.”  The Archdiocese of Chicago had issued a statement that George did not approve of the invitation because of Sharpton’s “present political candidacy and his pro-abortion stance.” But the press release was not enough to dissuade Cardinal George’s subordinate, Fr. Pfleger. Some Chicago Catholics have expressed “bitter disappointment” with the Cardinal’s weak response to the clear violation of Catholic regulations related to the Sharpton speaking event.

For local coverage:  https://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-sharp11.html https://catholiccitizens.org/press/pressview.asp?c=4184   https://catholiccitizens.org/press/pressview.asp?c=4213