George Clements

George Harold Clements (January 26, 1932 – November 25, 2019) was an African-American Catholic priest who in 1981 became the first Catholic priest in the Chicago area to adopt a child. 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 civil rights activities from that point onward. He was accused of sexual abuse in 2019, and was partially cleared that same year, shortly before his death. In April 2022, it was revealed that the Archdiocese of Chicago paid $100,000 for a claim settled posthumously against Clements concerning alleged abuse in the 1970s. 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. 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.

Death Clements suffered a stroke on October 12, 2019. He died on November 25, 2019, at a hospital in Hammond, Indiana, from a heart attack at the age of 87.

Sexual abuse investigations

2019 In August 2019, Cardinal Blase Cupich asked Clements to step aside from ministry while the Church investigated allegations that he sexually abused a minor in 1974.

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.

Programs 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.

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.

In popular media The Father Clements Story was produced as a television movie in 1987 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.

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. 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 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.