Clutching portraits of their lost children, mothers united by murder sobbed as the Rev. Michael Pfleger called on them to cry out the names of their children who they could no longer hold on Mother's Day.The suspended Roman Catholic priest prayed at the unveiling of a memorial wall dedicated to those fallen through violence outside St. Sabina Catholic Church between masses on Sunday.
Long-stemmed roses were passed to mothers in the crowd who shared stories and paused to view the 70 displayed photographs of children and young adults who have died in recent years.
"We know that your grace is greater than grief, your power is greater than pain," prayed Pfleger, accompanying a chorus of names: "Justin. " "Lazarus. " "Tyrone!"
Pfleger, disciplined by the Cardinal for comments he made regarding whether he would leave the church if reassigned elsewhere, did not comment on his circumstances.
Some of the approximately 50 people who attended the memorial event said they came to support Pfleger as well, even if they weren't members of the St. Sabina congregation.
"We are very upset," said Maria Ramirez, 44, whose son was murdered in 2006. "Nobody is going to do what he has done with this community. I don't see any Catholic priest who will come out with us and march down the street yelling at gang-bangers...
"Maybe one reason I am not a practicing Catholic is because of these rules," she said, making quote marks with her fingers to emphasize "rules."