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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, For nearly half a century, Father George Clements of |
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Chicago has been an inspiring spiritual leader, and his visit to the |
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State Capitol on April 4, 2007, provides a welcome opportunity to |
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recognize his many worthy endeavors; and |
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WHEREAS, Father Clements is a graduate of Archbishop Quigley |
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Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake |
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Mundelein Seminary and holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in |
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philosophy and theology; ordained as a priest in 1957 by the |
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Archdiocese of Chicago, he served for more than two decades as |
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pastor of the Holy Angels Church; active in the civil rights |
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movement, he founded both the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus |
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and the African-American Police League; and |
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WHEREAS, After retiring from Holy Angels Church, Father |
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Clements founded One Church-One Child, which assists families with |
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the adoption of homeless black and biracial children; since its |
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inception, the organization has been highly successful in |
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fulfilling its goal and has placed more than 100,000 children in |
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loving, adoptive homes; moreover, in 1981, Father Clements became |
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the first priest to adopt a child and later adopted three more; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to his work with adoption, Father |
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Clements developed and implemented One Church-One Addict, a project |
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involving more than 800 churches in 31 states that helps with the |
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rehabilitation of those suffering from drug addiction; he has also |
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helped numerous African students secure opportunities to pursue |
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higher education in the United States, earning him recognition as |
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an honorary chief of the Yoruba Tribe of Nigeria; and |
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WHEREAS, A longtime champion of those less fortunate, this |
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esteemed clergyman has gained international recognition for his |
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humanitarian efforts, and it is a pleasure to welcome him to the |
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State Capitol; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Father George Clements for his |
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achievements with One Church-One Child as well as for his many other |
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good works and extend to him warmest best wishes for the future; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Father Clements as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |