Pfleger to speak at Arlington Heights conference on race

The Rev. Michael Pfleger, an activist Catholic priest from Chicago, will participate in a conference on racial issues at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, at the First United Methodist Church in Arlington Heights. The conference is titled "In Times Such as These: A Call to Faith Leaders."

Pfleger's participation was announced by the Rev. Clyde Brooks, chairman of the Illinois Commission on Diversity and Human Relations, which is organizing the conference in the Northwest suburbs. In addition to religious leaders, congregation members also are encouraged to attend.

Lead pastor at First United Methodist is the Rev. Melissa Earley.

The deadline for registration via email to cbrooks@icdhr.org is Oct. 13.

Pfleger is senior pastor of the predominantly African-American congregation of St. Sabina Catholic Church in Chicago's Auburn Gresham neighborhood. An activist, he has led movements to fight illegal drugs, alcohol and cigarette billboards, the sale of illegal guns and social injustices and he has at times resisted church rules as part of his activism. He advocates scripture regarding the responsibility of faith leaders and their leadership to protect the "least of these in our midst."

"Given the permanent separation of babies from their parents occurring in the nation, attacks on voting rights, exclusion of African Americans from law enforcement and mainstream opportunities and the silence of elected officials in promoting diversity inclusiveness," Brooks said, "the holding of the conference is believed to be timely. What is occurring is happening on our watch.