The Rev. Michael Pfleger said Tuesday in a meeting with parishioners that if he is not reinstated as pastor of St. Sabina Catholic Church by this weekend, he will begin to preach at other churches.
In his first in-depth public remarks about his suspension by Cardinal Francis George, Pfleger told a group of about 150 people that he has received numerous offers to preach from churches throughout the city and the country and needs to get back to preaching.
He did not specify at what churches he might speak or their denominations.
Still, Pfleger insisted that the only way he will leave St. Sabina is if he is thrown out or if he believes God wants him to go.
"This has been very painful," Pfleger said, choking back tears.
On April 27, George sent a letter to Pfleger suspending him from his duties and saying the priest's recent remarks in the news media that he would leave the Catholic Church if he were removed from St. Sabina had "short-circuited" efforts that have been under way for weeks to reach an agreement on his transition to a new post.
The cardinal named the Rev. Thulani Magwaza, the associate pastor at St. Sabina, as administrator during the suspension and the Rev. Andrew Smith, a priest at St. Ailbe's Parish, as his assistant.
Throughout his tenure, Pfleger's political activism and outspokenness have often placed him at odds with cardinals, even before George. But the cardinal's suggestion in March to name Pfleger president of Leo Catholic High School quickly escalated into a standoff that pitted his African-American congregation and other South Side supporters against the archdiocese.
On Tuesday, Pfleger told the parishioners that although he was still their pastor, he said it was too painful for him to continue attending services.
Pfleger spent about 90 minutes talking to the group and answering questions about his suspension and the future of the church.
He insisted that George never ordered him to become principal of nearby Leo High School. Pfleger also said he did not disobey the cardinal by saying he was not qualified for such an assignment.
Pfleger added that the media received the letter from George suspending him before he did and that he never threatened to leave the Catholic Church if he were removed.
While he has consulted with lawyers who told him that George had no legal right to suspend him, he had no intention of suing the Catholic Church, Pfleger said.
But Pfleger said one of his lawyers would send a letter to George saying he violated canonical law by suspending him.