'God Squad' priest celebrates birthday with Parkinson's fundraiser

Published: 2006-07-19

HUNTINGTON, N.Y. (CNS) -- Why an affliction like Parkinson's disease could happen to someone is "one of the most difficult questions to answer from a spiritual point of view," said Msgr. Thomas Hartman, a Rockville Centre diocesan priest who is co-host of TV's "The God Squad." Nine years ago the priest was told that he has Parkinson's, so he focuses on a different question: "What do I choose to do about it?" Part of his answer is the Thomas Hartman Foundation for Parkinson's Research, which he founded in 2004 to find a cure for the disease within the next decade. Msgr. Hartman celebrated his 60th birthday with his third annual fundraising dinner as part of an effort to help find millions of dollars for Parkinson's research. The dinner, which raised about $1 million, drew 1,400 people including actors Susan Lucci and Brian Dennehy, both friends of Msgr. Hartman's. Msgr. Hartman has had a long television ministry. For 25 years he was director of Telecare, the TV system for the Diocese of Rockville Centre.

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