Lawsuits Accuse Late Rev. George Clements of Orchestrating Child Sex Ring

The late Rev. George Clements, once known for his leadership in the Black Catholic movement and his initiative ‘One Church, One Child,’ is now accused in a series of lawsuits of orchestrating a child sex ring. The allegations come from lawsuits filed against the Archdiocese of Chicago, spotlighting Clements’ controversial and headline-grabbing actions.

Clements, who made history by adopting four children against church customs, served as pastor at Holy Angels Parish from 1969 to 1991. During these years, he allegedly abused children at the parish school regularly. Sean O’Malley, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, describes him as a major figure in child molestation cases within the Chicago Archdiocese.

The law firm has over 100 clients claiming abuse by Clements or associates. Children as young as five were allegedly abused. Lawsuits have been announced for seven plaintiffs; two had been filed by Tuesday evening. The complaints also accuse the archdiocese of inaction due to the victims’ race and socioeconomic status. Lawyers presented evidence of the allegations on October 13, 2026.

Clements, shortly after taking control of Holy Angels Parish, appointed Paul Smith as the school’s principal. They established a strict regime under which corporal punishment was used as a means to isolate boys for abuse. The arrival of Rev. Kenneth Brigham in 1972 further complicated the environment. Having left his previous parish amid abuse claims, Brigham joined Clements and Smith in allegedly hosting abusive gatherings at the rectory.

Claims reveal Clements abused altar boys, camouflaging it as assistance with uniforms. A common pattern involved prolonged grooming and abuse. The suit reports a third-grade boy was abused ritualistically by Clements, who later passed him on to Smith.

The allegations extend to children outside the school. Clements allegedly used mentorship to gain access, while Smith used chores as pretexts for molestation. Both left behind a troubling legacy at Holy Angels and on Chicago’s South Side.

John Calicott, Clements’ successor, followed similar patterns of abuse. Despite facing a public sexual abuse claim in 1993, Calicott was temporarily reinstated. His abuse persisted until his removal in 2002; he died in 2024.

Clements, who died in 2019, was under investigation for abuse at the time. The archdiocese settled a related claim in 2022. Smith, the principal, was murdered in 1996, and Brigham died in 2006.

The Archdiocese of Chicago acknowledged the lawsuits but pointed out these claims date back decades. It emphasized its commitment to child protection since 1992, asserting that all allegations are promptly reported to law enforcement. The archdiocese provides support and therapy for abuse survivors at its own cost.