George Clements, noted Catholic priest, dies at 87

George Clements, a civil rights activist whose life was turned into a made-for-TV movie after he became the first Catholic priest to adopt a child, died November 25 at age 87.

Clements reportedly had suffered a stroke and heart attack within the last month.

In a statement on Facebook, Michael Pfleger, senior pastor at St. Sabina Catholic Church in Chicago, called Clements “a pioneer for justice who spent his life helping people.”