Bishop Leo Clarke (29 August 1923 – 3 June 2006) was Bishop of the Roman Catholic diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, Australia from 1976-1995. Bishop Clarke was ordained the sixth bishop of the Newcastle diocese in June 1976, after 27 years of service in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, where he served as priest and Master of Ceremonies at St Patrick's Cathedral under Archbishop Daniel Mannix.
As Bishop, he was instrumental in implementing a programme of renewal the diocesan community. He initiated the Synod of 1992-93, a sustained consultation process involving clergy and laity coming to grips with the issues raised by the Second Vatican Council. Bishop Leo's major rationalisation of Newcastle's Catholic secondary schools was very controversial at the time and caused him enormous pain.
After his retirement due to ill health in 1995, he became Bishop Emeritus of Maitland-Newcastle.
Famous quotes containing the words leo and/or clarke:
“A man in the house is worth two in the street.”
—Mae West, U.S. actor, screenwriter, and Leo McCarey. Ruby Carter (Mae West)
“‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads;”
—Clement Clarke Moore (1779–1863)