Chloe Aftel (@chloeaftel.bsky.social)

Episode 34 — Michael Pfleger on Community Care, Systemic Justice, and Practicing Faith with Action American Catholic Priest and social activist Michael Pfleger sits down with host Chloe Aftel to discuss the weaponization of faith to target marginalized populations, the importance of taking care of your communities, and what it means to practice your faith through action. Pfleger discusses how he believes that justice and faith are inherently intertwined and in order to create safe and inclusive environments for those who most need it, they need to be met where they are with love rather than judgement. He criticizes many Republican leaders who use faith as a means to justify their attacks on the rights of vulnerable populations as well as the systems they rely on. He also brings light to some of the issues that are pushing young people away from the church, validating their concerns and emphasizing the importance of speaking up and holding institutions accountable. Highlights: - Pfleger talks about the impact that ICE raids have had on local communities and the fear and trauma that they result in - Pfleger discusses the Republican Party and how, despite the fact that they claim to be representative of Christianity, they are often acting in opposition to its teachings - Pfleger brings up the hypocrisy of the pro life movement, stressing that if you are not willing to advocate for the social systems that provide children and mothers with the means to not only survive but, to thrive, then you are not pro life - Aftel and Pfleger discuss Zohran Mamdani and how despite the fact that today many young people have given up on faith and government, grassroot campaigns like the one run by Mamdani have encouraged young people to take action, resulting in one of the largest youth voter turnouts in recent elections - Pfleger discusses how he believes that accountability is a Christian obligation and that justice is an idea that is central to the faith, citing moments from the bible where Jesus not only cared about and protected those who were vulnerable, but actively spoke out against the institutions that rendered them vulnerable to begin with Biographies: Michael Pfleger is an American Catholic priest and social activist who has gained notoriety in recent years for being outspoken about the countless systemic issues and injustices that exist within the Catholic Church and how they impact the world around us. Pfleger was ordained as a priest in May of 1977 by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, after studying at Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary South, Loyola University, and the University of Saint Mary of the Lake. He would then go on to lead the Parish of Saint Sabina, a predominantly black church located in the heart of Chicago where he has been since 1981. In his work he emphasizes leading with love rather than judgement and has dedicated his time to running food drives, encouraging sex worker outreach, and helping lead local anti drug campaigns. Under his leadership, Saint Sabina has also been able to develop various programs to provide resources for their community, including an elder’s home, a social center, and an employment resource center. https://www.chloeaftel.com/ has spent her career working in commercial photography, photojournalism, and film. She’s an established name in modern photography with work featured in The New York Times, Mother Jones, Playboy, Dazed & Confused, Vogue Germany, The Hollywood Reporter, The Wall Street Journal, Vogue Italia, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Teen Vogue, and more. Aftel has photographed victims of sexual violence, reported on COVID 19's impact on the trans community, and gained access as the first reporter in COVID wards of the West Coast’s hardest-hit hospitals. She has covered underground abortion providers, the impact of gender pronouns on daily life, and clergy abuse. Aftel's first book, https://www.chloeaftel.com/outside-inbetween, is an award-winning anthology covering gender non-conforming people across the United States. https://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-34-michael-pfleger-on-community-care-systemic-justice-and-practicing-faith-with-action--68764957