CHICAGO (AP) --
A predominantly white Roman Catholic athletic league denied membership to a black church's grammar school citing concerns about safety, a decision that has prompted charges of racism.
"I'm saddened that in 2001 we have some of the same headlines and some of the same issues that we had in 1961," the Rev. Michael Pfleger, pastor of St. Sabina's Church, said Thursday. "The sin of racism is a sin we've got to deal with."
Members of the Southside Catholic Conference voted 11-9 last week to deny St. Sabina's School membership in the intramural league.
Opposing parishes cited concerns about the safety of players, coaches and parents from the other schools who would travel to St. Sabina's South Side neighborhood to play, said Hank Lenzen executive director of the conference.
"I would like to apologize to the children of St. Sabina's," Lenzen said. "I will continue to work with the full board of the conference and the people of St. Sabina's ... toward a resolution not only of the membership of the SCC, but also the deeper issues involved."
League members had suggested alternatives, such as admitting St. Sabina's on the condition that games there would be played during the day or that there be no home games. Pfleger called the suggestions an insult.
"I'm not going to agree to sell ourselves or convince anybody that we're OK. It's insulting and it's degrading to our children," he said.
The league has 21 parishes and sponsors football, basketball, soccer and golf for more than 5,000 children in grades five through eight.
The Archdiocese of Chicago said in a statement that it does not support the league's decision if it was based solely on a concern for safety in St. Sabina's neighborhood.
"While safety for all children is a concern that we all share, it must not be used as a racially motivated reason to deny African-American Catholics the right to participate in Catholic organizations," the statement read.
Sister Anita Baird, director of the archdiocese's Office of Racial Reconciliation, said she hoped to meet with both sides and find a resolution.
The Rev. William Quinn, pastor of St. Louis de Montfort parish in Oak Lawn, said his parish was among the 11 that voted against having St. Sabina's in the league. "They are my parishioners," Quinn said. "Their concerns are legitimate."
But St. Sabina coach Chris Mallette said their fear is unfounded.
"I can understand where people may be coming from, but they're coming from that place out of ignorance," Mallette said. "Let's cut through the buzz words. It's because it's a black neighborhood."
