George Clements
George Clements | |
---|---|
Born | George Harold Clements January 26, 1932 |
Died | November 25, 2019 Hammond, Indiana, U.S. | (aged 87)
Occupation(s) | Roman Catholic priest, activist |
Years active | 1957–2019 |
Children | 4 (adopted)[1] |
George Harold Clements (January 26, 1932 – November 25, 2019) was a Black Catholic priest who, in 1981, became the first Catholic priest in the Chicago area to adopt a child.[2] He was also instrumental in the Black Catholic Movement, which sought to establish African-American culture in the liturgical and organizational life of the Catholic Church.
In June 1969, Clements became the second Black Catholic priest in Chicago, and was well known for his involvement in
He was accused of sexual abuse in 2019, and was partially cleared that same year, shortly before his death.[4]
Biography
Early life
George Clements was born George Harold Clements in Chicago on January 26, 1932, to Samuel George, a Chicago city auditor, and Aldonia (Peters) Clements. He attended Corpus Christi Elementary School in Chicago, and graduated from Chicago's Quigley Academy Seminary in 1945. He studied at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sacred Theology, and a Master of Arts degree in Philosophy. Clements became an ordained priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago on May 3, 1957.[citation needed]
Timeline
- 1945: Became the first black graduate of Quigley Academy Seminary in Chicago, Illinois.[5]
- May 3, 1957: Ordained a Roman Catholic priest in Chicago by Cardinal Samuel Stritch.
- 1960s: Marched with Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. in Alabama, Mississippi, and Chicago.[5]
- 1969: Became priest of Holy Angels Church in Chicago, a position that he held until 1991.[5]
- 1980: Originated the One Church-One Child program concept.[6]
- 1981: Received approval from the Vatican to adopt the first of his four children, becoming the first Catholic priest in the Chicago area to do so.[6]
- 1994: Started the One Church-One Addict program.[7]
- 1999: Started the One Church-One Inmate program.
- May 4, 2007: Completed fiftieth year as a Roman Catholic priest.[8]
Death
Clements suffered a
Sexual abuse investigations
2019
In August 2019, Cardinal
The
2022
In April 2022, it was revealed that the Archdiocese of Chicago had recently paid an $800,000 settlement involving the sexual abuse of children by local priests, including $100,000 for a claim settled posthumously against Clements concerning alleged abuse in the 1970s. The archdiocese refused to comment on the matter, and has not added Clements to the list of local priests credibly accused of sexual abuse.[16]
Programs
One Church-One Child
Clements started the One Church-One Child program locally in Chicago at Holy Angels Church in 1980.[17] Though the program was started locally in Chicago, it became a national effort in 1988.[17] The goal of the program was to use churches as a recruitment tool to find adoptive parents for African-American children, a demographic group that often has disproportionately long adoption waiting periods.
One Church-One Addict
After retiring from Holy Angels, Clements moved to Washington, D.C. In 1994, Clements started a program known as One Church-One Addict.[7] The goal of the program was to assist churches nationwide in helping recovering drug addicts through job counseling, spiritual consolation, and professional treatment.[7]
One Church-One Inmate
In 1999, Clements started a program called One Church-One Inmate, a collaborative effort to help prison inmates and their families. The program was designed to facilitate the transition of inmates from incarcerated life to a life as productive and "spiritually healed" law-abiding citizens.[18]
In popular media
Honors and legacy
- 1977: Named priest of the year by the Association of Chicago Priests.
- 1982: North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) Award winner.[20]
- 1987: Named an honorary chief by a Yoruba tribe in Nigeria.
- 1981: Received the Jason Award from Children's Square U.S.A. for his dedication to youth.
- April 11, 2002: The Kentucky State Legislaturepassed a resolution HR 117A, a "RESOLUTION honoring Father George Clements for his tireless devotion to the human race and adjourning in his honor".
- May 2007: Golden Jubilee marks Clements 50th year as a Roman Catholic priest. Celebrated at Hilton Chicago banquet and Jubilee Mass at Holy Angels Church Chicago.[8]
References
- ^ Ritz, M.K. "Priest to talk about adoption", The Honolulu Advertiser. January 14, 2006. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
- ^ [1] Father george clements at the Wayback Machine (archived 2011-07-07)
- ^ Richardson, J. (April 23, 2003). The Historymakers® video oral history interview with George Clements at the Wayback Machine (archived 2016-03-04)
- ^ a b "Archdiocese settles $800K worth of claims against George Clements, 4 others". WGN-TV. April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Retired Chicago Priest Under Investigation for Alleged Sexual Abuse in 1970s", NBC 5 Chicago. August 8, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
- ^ a b "History: the Father George Clements story". www.ococtexas.org. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
- ^ a b c Father clements starts 'one church, one addict' program. (March 14, 1994)
- ^ a b Porterfield, Harry (May 4, 2007). "Fr. George Clements marks 50 years as a priest". WLS-TV. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
- ^ The Chicago Sun-Times. November 25, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Retired Chicago priest, Civil Rights activist Father George Clements dies at 87". ABC7 Chicago. November 26, 2019.
- ^ Slotnik, Daniel E. (November 27, 2019). "George Clements, Priest and Activist, Is Dead at 87". New York Times. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
- ^ a b "Prominent Chicago priest accused in 1974 child sex assault Archived August 10, 2019, at the Wayback Machine", Associated Press. WSIL-TV. August 8, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
- ^ a b "Archdiocese Probes 45-Year-Old Sex Abuse Claim Against Fr. George Clements, Renowned Chicago Priest", CBS 2 Chicago. August 8, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
- ^ a b "Prominent Chicago priest accused in 1974 child sex assault", WGN-TV. August 8, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
- ^ Pioneering Rev. Clements paved the way for Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Laura Washington. Chicago Sun-Times. November 1, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
- ^ "Trailblazing Chicago priest accused of molesting boy in the 1970s". NBC News. April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
- ^ a b [2] One church, one child adoption encyclopedia at the Wayback Machine (archived July 7, 2011)
- ^ "Css begins 'one church one inmate' program. (December 2, 1999)". August 13, 2019.
- ^ "The Father Clements Story". December 13, 1987 – via IMDb.
- ^ [3] Previous NACAC Award Winners at the Wayback Machine (archived December 29, 2010)