Bishop Clark gave us a boost when we needed it most

Bishop Matthew H. Clark celebrates Mass at Rochester’s St. Mary’s Church, September 19, 1998 at the annual conference of the National Association of Catholic Lesbian and Gay Ministries. His ministry was transformational and helped restore the faith of many of us. Credit: Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester

Last fall, I had the opportunity to visit with retired Bishop Matthew Clark and thank him again for his ministry for people with AIDS when we needed it most.

My cousin, a retired Sister of St. Joseph, lives at the motherhouse in Rochester where Matthew was living. She set up a visit for me and I sat with the bishop in his room for about 10 minutes. 

It was the last time I would get to talk with him. He died Jan. 22 at age 85.

When I sat with him his memory had begun to fail. So I introduced myself. He looked back at me and smiled. I doubt he recalled who I was, but it didn't matter. I needed to share with him that the work he did in the early days was vital to people with AIDS and to their families.

As bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester from 1979-2012, Matthew Clark was an important ally with his groundbreaking work for people with AIDS and LGBT people, and he set the tone for religious leaders in the effort. His actions had consequences. Church leaders and community people reacted; not all favorably, either. Some thought him too liberal.

In March 1988, in his 12-page “pastoral instruction letter,” he addressed the pastoral care of people with HIV/AIDS, noting that “although some Catholics then believed HIV/AIDS was a punishment from God, Jesus had often spoken against the idea that suffering was a result of sin.”

Months before the letter was released, a member of the bishop’s staff called. They didn’t ask for my opinion. The bishop had his own thoughts. I was asked to help the people who were putting the letter together with him to understand HIV and the science so he could speak to it in intelligent terms.

The letter had an impact on me and thousands of others. He validated the work we were doing. He validated who we are.  This was the middle of a terrible epidemic. There wasn’t any treatment. And this pastoral letter gave us a boost when we needed it most.

On March 1, 1997, Bishop Clark presided at a Mass for gay and lesbian Catholics and their families.

On September 19, 1998, he presided at a Mass for 600 delegates to a national conference on gay ministries. The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported that between 65 and 70 Catholic protested outside.              

In 2016, Trillium Health presented him with our “Community Partner Award.”  The award has been presented since 2003 to someone whose “collaboration and/ or advocacy have helped further our mission.”

At the time, I said the letter was a tremendous act of courage.

Bishop Clark played down the impact. "In all truth and honesty, I didn't think at the time or even now it was a courageous act. I knew in some quarters it would be unpopular because of misunderstanding about HIV/AIDS and some attitudes people have,” he told the Democrat and Chronicle.

When he accepted Trillium’s award, Clark said he was thinking of Pope Francis' analogy to caring for people who might otherwise be marginalized.

"The Church during a health crisis is like a field hospital during wartime,” Clark said when he accepted the award.

He told the D&C: "If someone is in need, our call is to help them in their need. Not ask a million questions but take care of them. Having taken care of them, if there is anything else we can do for them or any conversation they want to have, so much the better."

Matthew Clark lived that statement during his time as bishop. He gave a sense of relief, he uplifted many who were suffering.

In presenting the award to him, I said, “Matthew – Bishop Clark. It is indeed an honor to present you with Trillium Health’s Community Partner Award. Tonight, after all these years, we celebrate your courage, your leadership and your ministry to people with HIV/ AIDS and to LGBTQ communities.

These deeds came during the darkest days of the AIDS crisis. On their behalf, I thank you.”

When I reminisced about his Mass for people with AIDS, Carol Williams, our first chief nurse recalled, “I remember that night. There was healing in the air.”

Bishop Clark uplifted and relieved a lot of people in this community of their burden.

Rest well, Matthew.