More hot air and empty rhetoric

Father Michael Pfleger took the pulpit for the first time since the shooting that injured two boys. He wanted to show his church would not back down. CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot reports on the fiery service.

Father Michael Pfleger drove the point home that his congregation has to be bolder and more aggressive when it comes to taking their community back.

In a powerful show of defiance against violence, the men of the St. Sabina congregation unite at the altar. Each shouts the words, "it's on."

Their show of solidarity, challenging crime and guns, comes after two teens were shot Friday outside the parish. Father Michael Pfleger says it's time for parishioners to let go of the status quo.

"If it was white children, we'd have a revolution going on in America, but because it's black and brown children, ain't nobody doin' nothing about it," Pfleger said. "Gunshots is not supposed to be the sound that we hear in our neighborhood! Gunshots is not supposed to be the music in our streets! Funeral business, is not supposed to be the biggest business in our community. We got to understand, that's not normal."

When asked how that sermon affected participants on the altar, parishioner Shawn Shine said," it was just more or less, a confirmation. God will give me the power, to do what I need to do, which is speak up, in the community."

Pfleger's sermon was called, "It's On." He spoke directly to those he says, makes neighborhoods unsafe.

"GD'S it's on; Vice Lords, it's on; BD's, it's on; Stone's it's on – anybody that comes against our children, it's on," Pfleger said.

Parishioner Pat Alex was at St. Sabina the night of the shooting. Alex spoke with CBS 2 with her three-year-old godson by her side.

"When I heard Father Mike's sermon, it's like, you got to keep pushing, you got to keep moving, cause that's what the devil wants you to do – he wants you to stop," Alex said. "So we had to be here, cause it's for the children."

And when it comes to the young people, July 24, the doors of the ARC at St. Sabina will be open. That's the church's recreational center. Father Pfleger says he wants the community to come out in force, to show that no one can violate their sanctuary of peace and safety again.
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