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Bishop Matthew
H. Clark’s coat of arms.
On April 9, 1982, Bishop Clark released his rst pastoral letter, “The Fire in the Thornbush: A Pastoral Letter on Women in the Church,” which emphasized the dignity, human rights and spirituality of all people, women and men alike. He asked the faithful to re ect on such actions as respecting women and the gifts they bring to the church community; engaging them in all liturgical roles that do not require ordination; and employing them in church administration.
He fostered ecumenical and interfaith relations by signing a covenant with the Episcopal bishop of Rochester in 1988; signing the Rochester Agreement of friendship and dialogue with the Rochester Board of Rabbis and the Jewish Community Federation in 1996, believed to
Bishop Matthew H. Clark (left) and
Dr. Muhammad Sha q, imam and executive director of the Islamic Center of Rochester, sign the Muslim-Catholic Agreement of Understanding and Cooperation between the Diocese of Rochester and the Greater Rochester Council of Masajid (Mosques) at the Islamic Center May 5, 2003.
At Rochester’s Strong Museum May 8, 1996, Bishop Matthew
H. Clark signs the Rochester Agreement of friendship and dialogue with the Rochester area Jewish community. At left is Roberta Borg, president of the Jewish Community Federation of Greater Rochester, and at right is Rabbi Alan J. Katz of the Board of Rabbis of Rochester.
The historic agreement was believed to be the rst of its kind.
be the rst agreement of its kind; and signing the Muslim-Catholic Agreement with the Council of Masajid of Rochester in 2003.
He supported peace initiatives by speaking at a 1983 rally near the Seneca Army Depot and taking an active role in development of the U.S. bishops 1983 pastoral letter “Facing the Challenge of Peace: God’s Promise and Our Response.” He supported Catholic homosexuals by celebrating a 1997 Mass for gay and lesbian Catholics and their families and friends, and hosting Solidarity Sunday in 1997 to raise awareness of anti-gay sentiment. Bishop Clark also urged compassion for those with HIV/AIDS in his 1988 pastoral instruction, “The Lord Himself Taught Me to Have Compassion.”
Other highlights of Bishop Clark’s tenure were founding the annual Thanks Giving Appeal (now Catholic Ministries Appeal) in 1981; recon guring St. Bernard’s Seminary (which he had attended for two years) into St. Bernard’s Institute, which is now called St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry; establishing a 1993 policy for employees and volunteers to report allegations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy and deacons; and authoring the article “The Pastoral Exercise of Authority” for New Theology Review.
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