Brothers Detail Sex Abuse Accusations Against Father Pfleger

CHICAGO — Two men, brothers who have accused activist priest the Rev. Michael Pfleger of sexually assaulting them when they were children five decades ago, offered details of the alleged attacks by the former St. Sabina Catholic Church priest in a Monday news conference.

The men, who are now in their 60s and live in Texas, said the alleged assaults were secrets that they didn't share with each other until this month after one of them filed a complaint with the Chicago Archdiocese. The men, who have asked not to be identified, appeared in silhouette while talking to reporters Monday.

One of Pfleger's accusers, a 20-year Air Force veteran and former police officer, came forward last week with abuse allegations after learning that his brother had filed an initial complaint with the church on Jan. 4 that led to Rev. Pfleger's removal from St. Sabina, where he had served as pastor since the 1970s.

"[My brother] called me a couple of weeks ago … and that almost put me in a paralyzed state to recognize that surely if it's my brother there's someone else as well," the former police officer said. He said he met Pfleger while signing in the choir at Precious Blood parish, and considered the priest as a father figure who offered a refuge in a violent neighborhood. He said he would spend the night at the rectory, where he claims Pfleger climbed into bed with him and "scooched" up against him until reaching an orgasm.

"That's how it started," the former police officer said. "As a kid I was puzzled. … Getting that attention, good or bad, was still better than being out on the street. I was scared to death of the street ... it still bothers me the violence that took place in our neighborhood that we were able to survive. That was probably the impetus that kept me in that sanctuary even though I couldn't understand all of what was going on."

The former police officer's younger brother who filed the initial complaint against Pfleger described a similar scenario of sexual abuse in a single bed at Precious Blood parish. "He humped me …. Until he ejaculated," the man said, adding that his underwear was left bloody.

Father Pfleger, through his lawyers, has denied the allegations against him. The Sun-Times reported Pfleger's attorneys said in a statement that the priest has been wrongly accused and the accusations amount to a "shakedown" for money.

The man who initially filed the abuse complaint with the Chicago Archdiocese said he did write a letter to Pfleger demanding $20,000, but said that the request for a payment was part of his plan to show the pastor admitted guilt. Pfleger did not respond to the man's request for money.

The former police officer said he came forward with allegations against Pfleger because it was the moral and right thing to do.

"I'm not really interested in the outcome," he said. "I'm obligated to myself, the moral and right thing to do. I'm just going to tell my story. Whatever happens, happens. That's it for me."