New York 'God Squad' priest reveals he has Parkinson's

Published: 2003-12-03

MELVILLE, N.Y. (CNS) -- Msgr. Thomas Hartman, the Catholic half of television's "God Squad," revealed he has Parkinson's disease. Msgr. Hartman said he was first diagnosed with Parkinson's four years ago. "I wish I could say I'm telling you because I wanted to, but the truth is: Since I am visibly disabled now, I could no longer keep it a secret," he said, adding he had previously told only his family and his "God Squad" partner, Rabbi Marc Gellman. He announced he has the disease in a Nov. 29 column published in Newsday, a daily newspaper published on Long Island. Msgr. Hartman is director of the television office for the Diocese of Rockville Centre. He has appeared with Rabbi Gellman as the "God Squad" on ABC's "Good Morning America" and on their own program, which is seen on the Rockville Centre diocesan cable TV channel, Telicare, and is available on other cable systems throughout the United States.

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