CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- South Side priest Father Michael Pfleger is not backing away from his suggestion that religious institutions that don't work to keep young people away from violence should lose their tax-exempt status.
Pfleger said he expected pushback from other clergy when he said that houses of worship that don't help young people in the neighborhood shouldn't be tax exempt.
St. Sabina has some big programs to help people in Auburn Gresham, but the senior pastor said small things like a cooking class or someone teaching car repair would be enough and that churches need to "open (their) door beyond Bible study, choir rehearsal, and Sunday mornings".
"It's an opportunity to empower and invest in children," he said referring to non-religious activities. Pfleger said having these type of classes for children allow adults to talk to children about what's going on in their lives and connect with them.
He suggested different churches in a neighborhood could even do such outreach together.
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