Two days after he suspended the Rev. Michael Pfleger, a Vatican City-bound Cardinal Francis George spoke publicly for the first time about Pfleger’s situation, saying “the ball really is in his corner now.”

And the cardinal asked for understanding from angry parishioners at Pfleger’s St. Sabina Church, who Thursday marched outside the cardinal’s home in protest of the suspension.

“I would hope (parishioners) would understand the necessity to ask the questions about faith and life,” George told CBS 2 at O’Hare Airport Friday. “If I’m not responsible for priests, then why do you come to me when a priest has abused a child or when a priest has stolen money? ...You can’t have it both ways, can you?”

via www.suntimes.com