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After a monthlong investigation, the Rev. Michael Pfleger has been reinstated as the head of St. Sabina Church in Auburn Gresham and cleared of all allegations of child sexual abuse.

The Archdiocese of Chicago announced Pfleger’s return to the church in a press release Monday evening, stating that “there is no reason to believe Father Pfleger is guilty of this allegation.”

On July 11, Pfleger, the longtime pastor of St. Sabina and an outspoken social justice advocate, was accused of sexual abuse of a minor more than 30 years ago. He was removed from the South Side church by an independent review board, and the archdiocese’s Office of Child Protection investigated the claims. 

Monday evening, Pfleger took to social media to announce his reinstatement, writing “Thank you God and thanks to all who stood by me.”

Pfleger was not available for immediate comment Tuesday.

There is no timeline for how long an investigation may take, as each case is different, according to Mayra Flores, director of the Office for Assistance Ministry at the Archdiocese of Chicago. Pfleger was away from his parish for around six weeks.

During Pfleger’s weeks away from St. Sabina, Malachi Hunter, a parishioner and employee of the church, said some churchgoers stopped coming in Pfleger’s absence. Pfleger was also forced to miss some of the parish’s biggest events of the year, including the annual back-to-school block party and resource fair.

“It’s just hurtful at the end of the day that he has to go through this with all he does for the community,” Hunter said. “It’s very hurtful. We’re just glad they made a decision.”

Cory Williams, an assistant to Pfleger, said parishioners who did attend were tithing less, and food pantry operations were also disrupted because Pfleger was not present to ensure there were enough resources to feed up to 1,500 people each week.

“The spirit wasn’t the same as it normally is,” Williams said.

This wasn’t Pfleger’s first absence from the church due to sexual abuse accusations. In 2021, he was accused of molesting two preteen brothers during the early 1970s while serving as choir director at Precious Blood Catholic Church. Months later, a third accuser alleged that when he was 18, Pfleger made an unwanted sexual advance in the priest’s bedroom area at St. Sabina Church in 1979.

Pfleger was reinstated after an archdiocese panel found “insufficient reason to suspect” that he was guilty of the allegations.

Pfleger was accused of sexual abuse again in 2022 by a man who alleged that the priest abused him at St. Sabina in the late 1980s. He was reinstated after an investigation by the diocese determined that the allegations were unfounded.

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It is unclear if Pfleger will return to the pulpit on Sunday. 

“We’re glad he’s back,” Hunter said. “Father Michael is going to continue to preach truth and be a pillar in the community the best he can be.”