A South Side Chicago church's plan to buy prostitutes' time in order to get them into a pew, is drawing global interest as well as local donations.
"We're overwhelmed," said the Rev. Michael Pfleger, pastor of St. Sabina's Roman Catholic church. "We got calls from everywhere, including Europe." Pfleger challenged his church members to spend money aiding the needy--and went so far as to urge them to give "the $45 or whatever" prostitutes charge to get them to listen to an evangelical message. Not only did the idea generate interest from overseas; several people outside the parish have offered donations, Pfleger said.
An Evanston man pledged $1,000 for the effort, which will be added to the $3,000 given last Sunday by parishioners who heard his challenge. Groups are expected to go out sometime this week, although the priest declined to say when.
Pfleger said the plan was more than an effort to talk to prostitutes or drug dealers. He said the outreach was designed to connect prostitutes with a wide network of help.
"We're not just saying God loves you. We have a social service center and can get you counseling, housing, addiction help, employment," he said, adding that some of the funding would go to finance those types of outreaches.
