Bishop Matthew Clark dead at the age of 85

Bishop Matthew H. Clark, who was 85-years-old has died.

Bishop Clark was born outside of Albany, New York back in 1937.  He served in Albany and Rome before being consecrated as Bishop of Rochester back in 1979.  At the time, Bishop Clark was one of the youngest Bishops at the age of 42. 

When Bishop Clark came to Rochester, he became a staple within the community.  He would be seen  going for runs throughout the community and interacting with the community. 

In 1996 Bishop Clark signed an agreement with the Jewish rabbis of Rochester.  This agreement was the first of its kind in the United States.  It changed how Catholic Institutions taught about Judaism.

In 2004 the when the Catholic church declared bankruptcy, Bishop Clark was questioned about some of the practices of sending priests accused of child abuse to treatment.  Bishop Clark would later testify in court that he did allow one priest back into the church, where that priest had interactions with children.

In 2012 at the age of 75, Bishop Clark submitted his resignation.

In 2019 Bishop Clark announced that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.  For the last 3 years Bishop Clark battled the disease.