RIP to the God Squad and the Guard Squad

beast of the east

Active member
Two of my personal heroes left us this week. The old line goes something like "Every boy needs a hero", and for me at least, they are vanishing quickly with no one apparently standing in the wings to replace them. It's sad.

Father Tom Hartman, the media savvy priest from Long Island, who together with Rabbi Marc Gelman starred in the vastly popular TV show, "The God Squad". The show began on the RVC diocese cable television station Telecare, but quickly was picked up by stations around the country. The show was in a discussion format, and focused on the common ground between people of faith and even of people without faith. The duo had a recurring guest role on both Good morning America and Imus in the morning, with Hartman playing the sensible straight man to Gelman's constant warm jokes. The two were best friends until Father Tom's last breath. The last dozen years or so were very difficult for Father Tom, as Parkinson's disease robbed him of the ability to speak much. He was as comfortable with CEOs of major corporations on the gold course as he was as a parish priest, the latter of where I got to know him.

When my kids were small we'd go to Sunday mass that Father Tom said at a neighboring parish. His masses were great, his homilies always right on target, and his warmth palpable. It was said that what he loved most was being a parish priest. I always felt a kinship with him, and only learned this week that he spent the first 9 years of his life in the same part of Queens I grew up in.

The last time I saw him, at a luncheon for the Long Island Association I believe, I chatted with him about another hero of mine who had passed, Father James Tugwood. He told me he knew him, and that this was a great loss of a great priest. I have a friend who worked with Father Tom on several annual fundraisers, and just loved the guy. He was as authentic as they come, and had a heart as big as the ocean. R.I.P, and may God's mercy be upon him.

The second hero passed with much more fanfare. Justice Antonin Scalia was one of those giants I had always hoped to meet. Monte would tell you that Scalia, native to this area, was perhaps the finest grduate of Xaiver HS in NYC, where both Monte and my son attended.

Scalia was as brilliant a mind as exists in America, graduating Xavier as their valedictorian, as tops in his class at Georgetown, and magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. He was a staunch defender of the Constitution, and would tell anyone who asked that it wasn't his role to interpret what its authors intended, but to interpret exactly what was written. He was a staunch opponent of legislating from the bench, and felt his personal opinions should not influence his decisions. As such he voted to protect the freedoms of protesters who burned the American flag as a right protected by the First Amendment.

Scalia wrote with much diligence even when authoring the minority opinion for the court, rationalizing that for future courts his opinions may influence their own interpretation of their responsibilities to uphold the Constitution in related decisions. Although viewed as a Conservative, and a authentically devout Catholic, his best friend on the court was Ruth Bader Ginsburg, viewed as a liberal justice. Partisan divisiveness was not in his makeup, and he warmly regarded many people of different opinions and persuasions.

A few years ago, he spoke to high school students at Xavier high school. I only found out about it after the fact, or would have loved to attend. I would have listened and learned, and hope to engage him for a few minutes. Like most brilliant people, he had a reputation for being inquisitive, and rather than try to prove to people how brilliant he was, was sincerely interested in what they had to say.

Perhaps the accolades heaped upon his memory will be a spark to help heal a deeply divided nation. But for today, I'm simply sad, even as I reflect on the tiny piece of common ground we shared.
 
I was on the Board of Fr. Tom's Parkinson Foundation and knew him and Rabbi Gelman for many years through my employer. He was a unique guy and as you said as comfortable with the CEO as with the Janitor. His last 10 years were very trying but even in his compromised condition was a exemplar for anyone who had the privilege of having contact with him. His talent in the media helped transform Telecare into a very impactful medium to communicate the Catholic message broadly. I will always remember his commentary for one of the major networks on Pope JPII visit to New York. Very relatable.

God bless him and his family.
 
Didn't really know them but the God Squad were the officiants at my sister's wedding and my NY family (Jews, Cathlics and atheists) all speak fondly of both of them. Sorry for the loss to those who were close to Fr. Tom.
 
Two of my personal heroes left us this week. The old line goes something like "Every boy needs a hero", and for me at least, they are vanishing quickly with no one apparently standing in the wings to replace them. It's sad.

Father Tom Hartman, the media savvy priest from Long Island, who together with Rabbi Marc Gelman starred in the vastly popular TV show, "The God Squad". The show began on the RVC diocese cable television station Telecare, but quickly was picked up by stations around the country. The show was in a discussion format, and focused on the common ground between people of faith and even of people without faith. The duo had a recurring guest role on both Good morning America and Imus in the morning, with Hartman playing the sensible straight man to Gelman's constant warm jokes. The two were best friends until Father Tom's last breath. The last dozen years or so were very difficult for Father Tom, as Parkinson's disease robbed him of the ability to speak much. He was as comfortable with CEOs of major corporations on the gold course as he was as a parish priest, the latter of where I got to know him.

When my kids were small we'd go to Sunday mass that Father Tom said at a neighboring parish. His masses were great, his homilies always right on target, and his warmth palpable. It was said that what he loved most was being a parish priest. I always felt a kinship with him, and only learned this week that he spent the first 9 years of his life in the same part of Queens I grew up in.

The last time I saw him, at a luncheon for the Long Island Association I believe, I chatted with him about another hero of mine who had passed, Father James Tugwood. He told me he knew him, and that this was a great loss of a great priest. I have a friend who worked with Father Tom on several annual fundraisers, and just loved the guy. He was as authentic as they come, and had a heart as big as the ocean. R.I.P, and may God's mercy be upon him.

The second hero passed with much more fanfare. Justice Antonin Scalia was one of those giants I had always hoped to meet. Monte would tell you that Scalia, native to this area, was perhaps the finest grduate of Xaiver HS in NYC, where both Monte and my son attended.

Scalia was as brilliant a mind as exists in America, graduating Xavier as their valedictorian, as tops in his class at Georgetown, and magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. He was a staunch defender of the Constitution, and would tell anyone who asked that it wasn't his role to interpret what its authors intended, but to interpret exactly what was written. He was a staunch opponent of legislating from the bench, and felt his personal opinions should not influence his decisions. As such he voted to protect the freedoms of protesters who burned the American flag as a right protected by the First Amendment.

Scalia wrote with much diligence even when authoring the minority opinion for the court, rationalizing that for future courts his opinions may influence their own interpretation of their responsibilities to uphold the Constitution in related decisions. Although viewed as a Conservative, and a authentically devout Catholic, his best friend on the court was Ruth Bader Ginsburg, viewed as a liberal justice. Partisan divisiveness was not in his makeup, and he warmly regarded many people of different opinions and persuasions.

A few years ago, he spoke to high school students at Xavier high school. I only found out about it after the fact, or would have loved to attend. I would have listened and learned, and hope to engage him for a few minutes. Like most brilliant people, he had a reputation for being inquisitive, and rather than try to prove to people how brilliant he was, was sincerely interested in what they had to say.

Perhaps the accolades heaped upon his memory will be a spark to help heal a deeply divided nation. But for today, I'm simply sad, even as I reflect on the tiny piece of common ground we shared.

Beast thank you for sharing your thoughts on two special men. My Mom, who lives in Williston Pk, was a huge fan of The God Squad. She would speak about it to me often. I doubt she knows of Fr. Tom's passing. I will tell her when I speak with her later. As for Antonin Scalia, I agree was probably the greatest in a long line of great Xavier alumni. I believe he was also valedictorian of his Georgetown class. I don't think there was a man who I admired and respected more than Antonin Scalia, a fellow New Yorker, Italian-American and Son of Xavier. RIP to Justice Scalia and to Fr. Tom Hartman.
 
I always enjoyed listening to the God Squad even though I sometimes was in disagreement with their message. As far as Justice Scalia is concerned, I was/ am entirely in disagreement with his view of reading the Constitution and thought his condemnation of other judges who legislated from the bench disingenuous. That said, I admired his brilliant mind and always considered him a "worthy opponent". I watched his funeral mass on TV and was touched by his son's homily. Now, let's get a moderate on the bench and hopefully overturn Citizen's United and other onerous rulings!
 
Fr. Tom, I think, officiated Imus’s marriage to Deirdre and I remember his appearances on Imus very fondly, what a lovely person. I think he had a brother who died young of aids and he would talk about spending time caring for those with aids, a very generous and kind spiritual soul.

As for Scalia, I guess he didn’t get into Regis, is one thing I can say.

Scalia once told a group of law students at American University’s Washington School of Law, don’t even ever bother applying for a Clerkship with a US Supreme Court Justice, we would never hire you.

I can’t imagine what he would have said to SJU Law students like me, gee, he was a devout Catholic but an elitist snob.

I think he was a member of that crazy cult Opus Dei.
 
I somehow missed this completely. Father Tom was a priest at St. Vincent de Paul in Elmont when I was a kid. My parents were very friendly with him, so I'm shocked my mom failed to mention the news to me. He was a super nice guy, and a very charismatic speaker. St. Vincent's actually was blessed with two super nice charismatic priests, and then in a short span we lost both. Also lost shortly after their departure was my desire to sit in church.

The pastor who followed the pastor while Father Tom was there was involved in some pretty shady activity and tried to involve my dad, so that was pretty much the final nail in the coffin for me.
 
Fr. Tom, I think, officiated Imus’s marriage to Deirdre and I remember his appearances on Imus very fondly, what a lovely person. I think he had a brother who died young of aids and he would talk about spending time caring for those with aids, a very generous and kind spiritual soul.

As for Scalia, I guess he didn’t get into Regis, is one thing I can say.

Scalia once told a group of law students at American University’s Washington School of Law, don’t even ever bother applying for a Clerkship with a US Supreme Court Justice, we would never hire you.

I can’t imagine what he would have said to SJU Law students like me, gee, he was a devout Catholic but an elitist snob.

I think he was a member of that crazy cult Opus Dei.

As a matter of fact he didn't get in to Regis. I know plenty of others who didn't get in to Regis and had to "settle" for Xavier, and who went on to do just fine in life. Much like Antonin Scalia. There are many that will argue that Xavier turns out a much more well rounded individual. There is definitely some merit to that argument.
 
Fr. Tom, I think, officiated Imus’s marriage to Deirdre and I remember his appearances on Imus very fondly, what a lovely person. I think he had a brother who died young of aids and he would talk about spending time caring for those with aids, a very generous and kind spiritual soul.

As for Scalia, I guess he didn’t get into Regis, is one thing I can say.

Scalia once told a group of law students at American University’s Washington School of Law, don’t even ever bother applying for a Clerkship with a US Supreme Court Justice, we would never hire you.

I can’t imagine what he would have said to SJU Law students like me, gee, he was a devout Catholic but an elitist snob.

I think he was a member of that crazy cult Opus Dei.

As a matter of fact he didn't get in to Regis. I know plenty of others who didn't get in to Regis and had to "settle" for Xavier, and who went on to do just fine in life. Much like Antonin Scalia. There are many that will argue that Xavier turns out a much more well rounded individual. There is definitely some merit to that argument.

I've never met a Xavier grad, but the three Regis grads I met back in college were obnoxious jerks.

Maybe Scalia would have fit in better there.
 
The bunch of Regis grads I've met were all really great guys. Well rounded and smart as hell.


I guess when Judge Alito hired a Seton Hall Law School graduate as one of his law clerks, Scalia took umbrage to that move. Ted Cruz would have been more up Scalia's alley---Ivy elitist all the way. At Harvard Law School where Cruz went after Princeton, he wouldn't be in a study group with anyone other than the "high Ivies", i.e., Harvard, Yale Princeton. What a jerk.
 
Fr. Tom, I think, officiated Imus’s marriage to Deirdre and I remember his appearances on Imus very fondly, what a lovely person. I think he had a brother who died young of aids and he would talk about spending time caring for those with aids, a very generous and kind spiritual soul.

As for Scalia, I guess he didn’t get into Regis, is one thing I can say.

Scalia once told a group of law students at American University’s Washington School of Law, don’t even ever bother applying for a Clerkship with a US Supreme Court Justice, we would never hire you.

I can’t imagine what he would have said to SJU Law students like me, gee, he was a devout Catholic but an elitist snob.

I think he was a member of that crazy cult Opus Dei.



As a matter of fact he didn't get in to Regis. I know plenty of others who didn't get in to Regis and had to "settle" for Xavier, and who went on to do just fine in life. Much like Antonin Scalia. There are many that will argue that Xavier turns out a much more well rounded individual. There is definitely some merit to that argument.

I've never met a Xavier grad, but the three Regis grads I met back in college were obnoxious jerks.

Maybe Scalia would have fit in better there.


HOF Coach and SJU grad Frank McGuire was a Xavier H.S. alumnus.

Rich Engert, a starter on the 1958-59 team that won The Holiday Festival and The NIT was also a Xavier grad. Rich was a Math major at SJU and would have majored in Physics if it didn't interfere with his practice schedule. He was also inducted into Skull and Circle while at SJU, arguably the most prestigious/selective academic honor for a St, John's liberal arts/sciences undergrad.
 
Fr. Tom, I think, officiated Imus’s marriage to Deirdre and I remember his appearances on Imus very fondly, what a lovely person. I think he had a brother who died young of aids and he would talk about spending time caring for those with aids, a very generous and kind spiritual soul.

As for Scalia, I guess he didn’t get into Regis, is one thing I can say.

Scalia once told a group of law students at American University’s Washington School of Law, don’t even ever bother applying for a Clerkship with a US Supreme Court Justice, we would never hire you.

I can’t imagine what he would have said to SJU Law students like me, gee, he was a devout Catholic but an elitist snob.

I think he was a member of that crazy cult Opus Dei.

As a matter of fact he didn't get in to Regis. I know plenty of others who didn't get in to Regis and had to "settle" for Xavier, and who went on to do just fine in life. Much like Antonin Scalia. There are many that will argue that Xavier turns out a much more well rounded individual. There is definitely some merit to that argument.

For the record, Rev. Donald Harrington is a Regis grad. Hope he shared the spoils with the Regis boys.
 
Fr. Tom, I think, officiated Imus’s marriage to Deirdre and I remember his appearances on Imus very fondly, what a lovely person. I think he had a brother who died young of aids and he would talk about spending time caring for those with aids, a very generous and kind spiritual soul.

As for Scalia, I guess he didn’t get into Regis, is one thing I can say.

Scalia once told a group of law students at American University’s Washington School of Law, don’t even ever bother applying for a Clerkship with a US Supreme Court Justice, we would never hire you.

I can’t imagine what he would have said to SJU Law students like me, gee, he was a devout Catholic but an elitist snob.

I think he was a member of that crazy cult Opus Dei.



As a matter of fact he didn't get in to Regis. I know plenty of others who didn't get in to Regis and had to "settle" for Xavier, and who went on to do just fine in life. Much like Antonin Scalia. There are many that will argue that Xavier turns out a much more well rounded individual. There is definitely some merit to that argument.

I've never met a Xavier grad, but the three Regis grads I met back in college were obnoxious jerks.

Maybe Scalia would have fit in better there.


HOF Coach and SJU grad Frank McGuire was a Xavier H.S. alumnus.

Rich Engert, a starter on the 1958-59 team that won The Holiday Festival and The NIT was also a Xavier grad. Rich was a Math major at SJU and would have majored in Physics if it didn't interfere with his practice schedule. He was also inducted into Skull and Circle while at SJU, arguably the most prestigious/selective academic honor for a St, John's liberal arts/sciences undergrad.

Frank McGuire also coached the Xavier men's team.
 
The bunch of Regis grads I've met were all really great guys. Well rounded and smart as hell.


I guess when Judge Alito hired a Seton Hall Law School graduate as one of his law clerks, Scalia took umbrage to that move. Ted Cruz would have been more up Scalia's alley---Ivy elitist all the way. At Harvard Law School where Cruz went after Princeton, he wouldn't be in a study group with anyone other than the "high Ivies", i.e., Harvard, Yale Princeton. What a jerk.

I second your opinion on the Regis guys I've met. Mostly really talented, well grounded, very smart guys.

When you speak about elitist though, your own directors of admission tells prospective 7th graders that if they aren't at the very top of their class in terms of grades, don't bother applying. Regis for its part weighs classroom performance of 7th graders over standardized test results, even over their own entrance exam. Xavier, perhaps to get some equally talented kids, values standardized tests over classroom in awarding scholarships and entrance into their Ignatian scholars program. Both Jesuit schools produce top flight graduates (Monte included), but because Regis is entirely tuition free, they have a higher academic profile. Personally I love the success stories of Xavier grads whose single moms struggle to put a mid performing son through Xavier, and then watch that kid blossom into an amazing young man.

I wouldn't lump Judge Scalia in with Ted Cruz. Scalia was the defacto intellectual on the court, but didn't laud it over over justices. He did have enough spunk to dismiss Obama who was threatening the court not to overturn the Affordable Care act, by saying "What is he going to do? Fire me? Can't do it. His threats mean nothing to me."
 
The bunch of Regis grads I've met were all really great guys. Well rounded and smart as hell.


I guess when Judge Alito hired a Seton Hall Law School graduate as one of his law clerks, Scalia took umbrage to that move. Ted Cruz would have been more up Scalia's alley---Ivy elitist all the way. At Harvard Law School where Cruz went after Princeton, he wouldn't be in a study group with anyone other than the "high Ivies", i.e., Harvard, Yale Princeton. What a jerk.

I second your opinion on the Regis guys I've met. Mostly really talented, well grounded, very smart guys.

When you speak about elitist though, your own directors of admission tells prospective 7th graders that if they aren't at the very top of their class in terms of grades, don't bother applying. Regis for its part weighs classroom performance of 7th graders over standardized test results, even over their own entrance exam. Xavier, perhaps to get some equally talented kids, values standardized tests over classroom in awarding scholarships and entrance into their Ignatian scholars program. Both Jesuit schools produce top flight graduates (Monte included), but because Regis is entirely tuition free, they have a higher academic profile. Personally I love the success stories of Xavier grads whose single moms struggle to put a mid performing son through Xavier, and then watch that kid blossom into an amazing young man.

I wouldn't lump Judge Scalia in with Ted Cruz. Scalia was the defacto intellectual on the court, but didn't laud it over over justices. He did have enough spunk to dismiss Obama who was threatening the court not to overturn the Affordable Care act, by saying "What is he going to do? Fire me? Can't do it. His threats mean nothing to me."

Thanks Beast. Although I have to admit that ranking at graduation was a bit lower than Antonin Scalia's was, and I'm sure a hell of a lot lower than your son's. lol. Coincidentally I stopped over a friend's house last night and walked in to a house full of Xavier and Regis boys. Group of Regis seniors were heading over to a Notre Dame "meet and greet" for accepted students. My friends have one son at Xavier and another son at Regis. Equally brilliant kids but 2 completely different types. Both love their schools. Difference I see is that IMO Xavier kid would not have been happy at Regis, where as the Regis kid would have been equally happy if not happier at Xavier. Regis, for better or worse, is not for every kid. Even every kid who is fortunate enough to be accepted. Xavier, on the other hand, seems to have something for everyone. I don't base this on my own personal experience, which was so long ago that I can hardly remember it lol, but rather on the experiences of current students and recent graduates, like your son and many other kids that I know and have spoken with.
 
The bunch of Regis grads I've met were all really great guys. Well rounded and smart as hell.


I guess when Judge Alito hired a Seton Hall Law School graduate as one of his law clerks, Scalia took umbrage to that move. Ted Cruz would have been more up Scalia's alley---Ivy elitist all the way. At Harvard Law School where Cruz went after Princeton, he wouldn't be in a study group with anyone other than the "high Ivies", i.e., Harvard, Yale Princeton. What a jerk.

I second your opinion on the Regis guys I've met. Mostly really talented, well grounded, very smart guys.

When you speak about elitist though, your own directors of admission tells prospective 7th graders that if they aren't at the very top of their class in terms of grades, don't bother applying. Regis for its part weighs classroom performance of 7th graders over standardized test results, even over their own entrance exam. Xavier, perhaps to get some equally talented kids, values standardized tests over classroom in awarding scholarships and entrance into their Ignatian scholars program. Both Jesuit schools produce top flight graduates (Monte included), but because Regis is entirely tuition free, they have a higher academic profile. Personally I love the success stories of Xavier grads whose single moms struggle to put a mid performing son through Xavier, and then watch that kid blossom into an amazing young man.

I wouldn't lump Judge Scalia in with Ted Cruz. Scalia was the defacto intellectual on the court, but didn't laud it over over justices. He did have enough spunk to dismiss Obama who was threatening the court not to overturn the Affordable Care act, by saying "What is he going to do? Fire me? Can't do it. His threats mean nothing to me."

Thanks Beast. Although I have to admit that ranking at graduation was a bit lower than Antonin Scalia's was, and I'm sure a hell of a lot lower than your son's. lol. Coincidentally I stopped over a friend's house last night and walked in to a house full of Xavier and Regis boys. Group of Regis seniors were heading over to a Notre Dame "meet and greet" for accepted students. My friends have one son at Xavier and another son at Regis. Equally brilliant kids but 2 completely different types. Both love their schools. Difference I see is that IMO Xavier kid would not have been happy at Regis, where as the Regis kid would have been equally happy if not happier at Xavier. Regis, for better or worse, is not for every kid. Even every kid who is fortunate enough to be accepted. Xavier, on the other hand, seems to have something for everyone. I don't base this on my own personal experience, which was so long ago that I can hardly remember it lol, but rather on the experiences of current students and recent graduates, like your son and many other kids that I know and have spoken with.

Although a high school is very different than a university, both schools have feveloped a strong sense of community among their students and alumni that has translated into strong donor bases. Even many years after you graduated, you still have strong ties to Xavier. Xavier achieves something enviable - incredible academic, cultural, racial, social, and economic diversity among students and still achieve a sense of community among students, faculty, and alumni. This definitely off topic but worth posting. I dont know if sju can ever build the same sense of loyal community but if they ever can, donations will increase dramatically and the university will flourish .
 
I somehow missed this completely. Father Tom was a priest at St. Vincent de Paul in Elmont when I was a kid. My parents were very friendly with him, so I'm shocked my mom failed to mention the news to me. He was a super nice guy, and a very charismatic speaker. St. Vincent's actually was blessed with two super nice charismatic priests, and then in a short span we lost both. Also lost shortly after their departure was my desire to sit in church.

The pastor who followed the pastor while Father Tom was there was involved in some pretty shady activity and tried to involve my dad, so that was pretty much the final nail in the coffin for me.

Father Hickey was the pastor at st..vincent de paul. Father frank Schneider was one great young priest back then. There was also a third young priest, black guy who was also great. Father tom was just a regular visiting priest, not a parish priest there. Back then hickey ran a great bazaar that ran at leadt 2 weeks and generated a lot of operating capital for a relatively poor smaller oarish
 
Father Hickey was the pastor at st..vincent de paul. Father frank Schneider was one great young priest back then. There was also a third young priest, black guy who was also great. Father tom was just a regular visiting priest, not a parish priest there. Back then hickey ran a great bazaar that ran at leadt 2 weeks and generated a lot of operating capital for a relatively poor smaller oarish

I guess I'm unsure of what regular visiting priest vs. parish priest would construe, because it seemed like Father Tom was there all the time. Father Frank was a great guy -- he was also close to my parents. I think I remember him coming to dinner, but my memory is hazy. Not sure who the black priest was.

The bazaar/feast/carnival whatever the official name was was a huge moneymaker for them. My parents volunteered for years. My grandmother was a vital cog -- she and a few other old women made the zeppole. I think the extent of my grandfather's involvement was drinking wine and hanging out with friends there.
 
Father Hickey was the pastor at st..vincent de paul. Father frank Schneider was one great young priest back then. There was also a third young priest, black guy who was also great. Father tom was just a regular visiting priest, not a parish priest there. Back then hickey ran a great bazaar that ran at leadt 2 weeks and generated a lot of operating capital for a relatively poor smaller oarish

I guess I'm unsure of what regular visiting priest vs. parish priest would construe, because it seemed like Father Tom was there all the time. Father Frank was a great guy -- he was also close to my parents. I think I remember him coming to dinner, but my memory is hazy. Not sure who the black priest was.

The bazaar/feast/carnival whatever the official name was was a huge moneymaker for them. My parents volunteered for years. My grandmother was a vital cog -- she and a few other old women made the zeppole. I think the extent of my grandfather's involvement was drinking wine and hanging out with friends there.

Father Tom ran Telecare, so at least at some point, he didn't have regular parish duties beyond Sunday Mass. He was amazingly talented and genuine in his priestly vocation, which resonated with Catholics and non Catholics alike, and religious and non-religious people. His God Squad show transcended religious programming. To my knowledge, he did this in a superior manner to even Bishop Fulton Sheen, who was a prime time sensation.

While not my parish, I probably ate a few of your grandmother's zeppole. That parking lot is enormous.

Funny story. In the 80s, St. Vincent's dePaul was struggling financially to keep their elementary school open (which they eventually closed). The public school district came to Father Hickey and asked if they could rent space in the school for some programs on the weekends or summer, I forget which. They'd pay him $50,000 per year, with one stipulation - that all crucifixes be removed from the classrooms. Father Hickey took about half a second to respond, and told them essentially, "Look, I really need the $50,000 to keep the parish school running so I'll tell you what: You can rent the school, but I won't remove a single crucifix. But if you decide not to rent, and I understand that, I'm going to have to close my school and then you will have a problem of finding space and paying for 300 new students in your public schools". The public schools backed down, and they rented - with the crucifixes remaining in place.
 
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