It’s About Making Babies!

Rachel Lucas pointed out the weak ‘apology‘ from Rev. Michael L. Pfleger (about to be former) Pastor of The Faith Community of Saint Sabina.

Rev. Pfleger apologized for being videotaped. He apologized for his usual histrionics.

Last Sunday, I was invited by Trinity United Church of Christ to come and preach on the topic of race.

I agreed to do so because of my love for Trinity, Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Rev. Otis Moss, III and because all my life I have sought to deal with the reality of racism. As I said, Last Sunday, I have committed myself to tear down the walls that divide us wherever they stand.

…

I said on Thursday, I apologize for words that I chose. I apologize for my dramatization that was for many who do not know me, simply typical dramatics I often use in sermons.

I find this disturbing. Rev. Pfleger never apologizes for being wrong. He claims he wasn’t mocking Senator and Presidential Candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. He doesn’t even claim he was misunderstood.

He apologizes for getting published.

And while spewing us-against-the-white-folk rhetoric, he proclaims he wants an end to racism. He sounds like he will consider racism at an end when his race holds sovereignty over everyone else.

I looked up ‘apologize’ in my dictionary. Apologize v.i. 1. To offer an apology or excuse for some fault, insult, failure, or injury. 2. To make a formal defense in speech or writing.

Apology n. 1. A written or spoken expression of one’s regret, remorse, or sorrow for having insulted, failed, injured, or wronged another. 2. A defense, excuse, or justification in speech or writing, as for a cause or doctrine. 3. (cap. italics.) A dialogue by Plato centering on Socrates defense before the tribunal which condemned him to death. 4. A poor substitute or makeshift: The tramp wore a sad apology for a hat.

I have to presume that the Rev. Pfleger is a learned man, making his living by the words of his speech. So I have to believe that his ‘Apology’ missive is an empty bundle of words. As the spiritual leader of a congregation he has to know the difference between a contrite confession and a shallow declamation. He uses the word apology over and over, but never acknowledges doing wrong. He takes no responsibility for correcting any error. He never clearly shows that he means ‘apology’ to mean regret and remorse for an injury or fault - or denies that he means apology in the legalistic sense of a vindication or formal explanation, with not implications of error or fault.

And the Rev. Pfleger asks for our prayers.

Here is my prayer, Rev. Pfleger. I pray that you learn to recognize hurt when you see it, that you learn to respect all of God’s children regardless of race or background or faith. That you see the responsibility to lead your church toward deeper faith, and away from worldly politics. Until then, I hope the IRS redesignates you and the Trinity United Church of Christ as political activists, and not a tax-exempt religious organization.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 4th, 2008 at 12:54 am and is filed under General, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.