George H. Clements is an American Roman Catholic priest who, in 1981, became the first Catholic priest in the Chicago area to adopt a child. Through the establishment of several programs, including "one child of a church", "one church preacher", and "one single-church prisoner", he brings greater recognition of social issues and encourages adoption of African-American children. In June 1969, Father Clements became the first black pastor of the Catholic Church of the Holy Angels on the South Side of Chicago. He is also renowned for his involvement in civil rights activities over an extended period from the late 1960s to the present.
Early life
George Clements was born George Harold Clements in Chicago, Illinois on January 26, 1932 to Samuel George, a Chicago city auditor, and Aldonia (Peters) Clements. He studied at Corpus Christi Elementary School in Chicago, and graduated from the Quigley Academy Seminary in Chicago in 1945. Mary of the Lake Seminary, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sacred Theology, and a Master of Arts degree in Philosophy. Clements became an ordained priest in the Diocese of Chicago on May 3, 1957.
Video George Clements
Chronological summary of achievement
- 1945: Became the first black graduate from the Quigley Academy Seminary in Chicago, Illinois.
- May 3, 1957: Ordained a Roman Catholic priest in Chicago, Illinois by Cardinal Samuel Stritch.
- 1960s: Line up in Selma, Alabama with Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- 1969 Became a pastor of the Holy Angels Church in Chicago, a position he held until 1991.
- 1980: Derived from a concept of a one-child church program.
- 1981: Received approval from the Vatican to adopt the first of its four children, becoming the first Catholic priest in the Chicago area to do so.
- 1994: Starts a single church junk program.
- 1999: Starts a single church prison program.
- May 4, 2007: Completed fifty years as Roman Catholic priest.
Maps George Clements
One child of a church
Clements started the One Church-One Child program locally in Chicago at Holy Angels Church in 1980. Although the program started locally in Chicago, the program became a national effort in 1988. The goal of the program was to use the church as a recruiting tool to find adoptive parents for African-American children, demographic groups who often have a waiting period for disproportionate adoption.
One church-addict
After retiring from Holy Angels, Clements moved to Washington, D.C. In 1994, Clements started a program known as "one church-one addict". The aim of the program is to assist national churches in helping to restore drug addicts through work counseling, spiritual entertainment, and professional care.
One inmate of one church
In 1999, Clements started a program called a one-prisoner inmate, a collaborative effort to help inmates and their families. This program is designed to facilitate the transition of prisoners from imprisoned life to life as productive and "spiritually healed" citizens.
Popular culture
The Father Clements Story was produced as a television movie by NBC and starred Lou Gossett, Jr., Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and Carroll O'Connor. Gossett, Jr. playing Father Clements, Warner playing Clutton's adopted son, Joey, and O'Connor playing Cardinal John Cody, Archbishop of Chicago.
Awards and inheritance
- 1977: Imam named this year by the Chicago Priest Association.
- 1982: Award-winning Selected Children in North America (NACAC).
- 1987: Named honorary chief by Yoruba tribe in Nigeria.
- 1981: Received Jason Award from U.S. Children's Square for his dedication to the youth.
- April 11, 2002: The Kentucky State Legislature passed a resolution of HR 117A, "RESOLUTION to honor Father George Clements for his tireless devotion to mankind and to replace him in his honor."
- May 2007: Golden Jubilee marks Clements 50 years as Roman Catholic priest. Celebrated at the Hilton Chicago banquet and Jubilee Mass at Holy Angels Church Chicago.
References
External links
- http://celebrities.adoption.com/famous/father-george-clements.html
- Church of the Holy Angels, African-American Roman Catholic Church
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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