Third man comes forward with allegations of inappropriate behavior from Father Pfleger
CHICAGO - A third person has come forward accusing Father Michael Pfleger of abuse.
The third accuser, who no longer lives in Illinois, said in the 1970s Pfleger gave him marijuana and liquor over a period of time and made an unwanted sexual advance on him when he was 18.
The new accuser came forward with claims against Pfleger after seeing the first two men tell their story. He said the inappropriate behavior happened in the bedroom at the rectory at St. Sabina Church.
He was not a minor at the time and he said it was not consensual. He's now in his 50s and his claims are in a sworn affadavit.
Brothers accuse Father Michael Pfleger of sexual abuse: ‘He knew we were vulnerable’
Two brothers in their 60s on Monday described years of sexual abuse by a firebrand activist priest who has gained fame speaking out on national politics from the pulpit and for taking on drug dealers in South Side neighborhoods around his Chicago church.
He was in contact with Eugene Hollander, the attorney of the first two men who came forward, brothers who said Pfleger molested them repeatedly.
"This man is not filing a lawsuit, and he is not looking for money. … However, he came forward because he wants the Archdiocese to know what kind of priest Father Pfleger really is so it can take appropriate action and remove him from St. Sabina," Hollander said in a news release.
DCFS investigated and declared the claims "unfounded," but said that the ruling does not mean the incidents did not occurr.
St. Sabina parishioners have been speaking out in support of their pastor and have called for his reinstatement. Pfleger was removed from the parish pending the Archdiocese investigation.
Pfleger emphatically denies the man’s allegations, his attorneys, James Figliulo and Michael Monico, said late Tuesday. They characterized the affidavit’s release as an attempt "to keep the story alive" in the media.
The Archdiocese investigation is still open and now has more information to consider in their decision.
The Associated Press and the Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.