George Clements
Encyclopedia
George H. Clements is an American
Roman Catholic priest who, in 1981, became the first Catholic priest to adopt a child. Through his founding of several programs, including one church-one child, one church-one addict, and one church-one inmate, he brought greater recognition to social problems and encouraged the adoption of African-American children. In June 1969, Father Clements became the first black pastor of Holy Angels Catholic Church on the South Side of Chicago
. He is also well known for his involvement in civil rights
activities during a period that extended from the late 1960s to present.
In 1994, Clements started a program known as "one church-one addict". The goal of the program was to assist churches nationwide in helping recovering drug addicts through job counseling, spiritual consolation, and professional treatment.
was produced as a television movie by NBC
and starred actors Lou Gossett, Jr., Malcolm-Jamal Warner
, and Carroll O'Connor
. Gossett, Jr. played Father Clements, Warner played Clements' adopted son Joey, and O'Connor played Cardinal John Cody, the Archbishop of Chicago.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Roman Catholic priest who, in 1981, became the first Catholic priest to adopt a child. Through his founding of several programs, including one church-one child, one church-one addict, and one church-one inmate, he brought greater recognition to social problems and encouraged the adoption of African-American children. In June 1969, Father Clements became the first black pastor of Holy Angels Catholic Church on the South Side of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. He is also well known for his involvement in civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
activities during a period that extended from the late 1960s to 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 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.Chronological summary of accomplishments
- 1945: Became the first black graduate of Quigley Academy Seminary in Chicago, Illinois.
- May 3, 1957: Ordained a Roman Catholic priest in Chicago, Illinois by Cardinal Samuel Stritch.
- 1960s: Marched on Selma, Alabama with Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.
- 1969 Became pastor of Holy Angels Church in Chicago, a position that he held until 1991.
- 1980: Originated the one church-once child program concept.
- 1981: Received approval from the VaticanHoly SeeThe Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
to adopt the first of his four children, becoming the first Catholic priest in history to do so. - 1994: Started the one church-one addict program.
- 1999: Started the one church-one inmate program.
- May 4, 2007: Completed fiftieth year as a Roman Catholic priest.
One church-one child
Clements started the One Church-One Child program locally in Chicago at Holy Angels Church in 1980. Though the program was started locally in Chicago, it became a national effort in 1988. 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.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
In 1994, Clements started a program known as "one church-one addict". The goal of the program was to assist churches nationwide in helping recovering drug addicts through job counseling, spiritual consolation, and professional treatment.
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.Popular culture
The Father Clements StoryThe Father Clements Story
The Father Clements Story is a 1987 made-for-television movie about the life of Father George Clements, an African-American Roman Catholic priest who became famous for being the first United States priest to legally adopt a child. The movie starred actors Lou Gossett, Jr., Malcolm-Jamal Warner,...
was produced as a television movie by NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
and starred actors Lou Gossett, Jr., Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Malcolm-Jamal Warner is an American television actor, film director, and musician. He is best known for his role as Theo Huxtable on the long-running NBC sitcom The Cosby Show. Additionally, he appeared as Malcolm McGee on the UPN sitcom Malcolm & Eddie. He is currently starring as Dr...
, and Carroll O'Connor
Carroll O'Connor
John Carroll O'Connor best known as Carroll O'Connor, was an American actor, producer and director whose television career spanned four decades...
. Gossett, Jr. played Father Clements, Warner played Clements' adopted son Joey, and O'Connor played Cardinal John Cody, the Archbishop of Chicago.
Honors and legacy
- 1977: Named priest of the year by the Association of Chicago Priests.
- 1982: North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACACNACACNACAC may refer to:*National Association for College Admission Counseling*North America, Central America and the Caribbean in IAAF terms* North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association...
) Award winner. - 1987: Named an honorary chief by a YorubaYoruba peopleThe Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
tribe in NigeriaNigeriaNigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. - April 11, 2002: The Kentucky State Legislature passed 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.
External links
- http://celebrities.adoption.com/famous/father-george-clements.html
- Holy Angels Church, An African-American Roman Catholic Church