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Happy Easter
Pope Francis

We've made our way into the Easter Season, so death has been conquered.  Eternal life is promised to us when we take up our own Cross to follow Him.  Fear has fled and hope has replaced despair.  If anyone has taught us the example of hope overpowering despair - it was Pope Francis - who courageously for 12 years has led the Church with conviction, love and joy.  Pope Francis passed from this life into eternal life at 7:35 a.m. Rome time on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025.  Biographers and historians will build a comprehensive picture of his life and accomplishments - but for so many Catholics and non-Catholics, Pope Francis was the human face of God's tenderness.  We will remember him as bringing God closer to humanity and humanity striving to imitate the love of God among our brothers and sisters.

Jubilee 2025

2025 Jubilee: The Holy Year

With Optional 2-Night Venice and St. Anthony of Padua Post Tour Extension

The Office of Radio & Television and WJMJ Radio invite you to join Father John Gatzak on a special pilgrimage tour to Italy in celebration of Jubilee 2025: The Holy Year of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Jubilee is a special year of grace, in which the Catholic Church offers the faithful the possibility of asking for a plenary indulgence, that is, the remission of sins for themselves or for deceased relatives. A Jubilee usually lasts a year and a few days: it begins just before the Christian Christmas and ends on the Epiphany of the following year.

Florence, Assisi & Rome, October 26 to November 6, 2025 (12 Days)

Do you want to learn more about this exciting 2025 Jubilee pilgrimage hosted by Father John Gatzak, featuring Florence, Assisi and Rome?  Please watch our Zoom travel presentation conducted by Collette Tours, originally recorded on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, just click the button below.

fr. john's commentaries

Back to Fr. John's Corner

Archdiocese of Hartford Reaches Settlement Agreement

The following commentary, delivered by Fr. John P. Gatzak, was originally broadcast during Crossroads Magazine™ on November 5 and 6, 2005.

This week, the Archdiocese of Hartford settled forty three claims of sexual abuse, following over two years of structured mediation.  The reported incidents of abuse occurred primarily during the 1960’s and 1970’s with a few cases occurring in the first half of the 1980’s.  The total settlement amount, 22 million dollars, is being paid to 43 claimants who reported acts of sexual misconduct experienced by them as minors, involving 14 priests of the Archdiocese.  This settlement is funded primarily by insurance and long-term savings.  None of the funding is coming from the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal.

So what does this mean?  As a Connecticut Catholic, what am I to think?  I too am a Connecticut Catholic, and as spokesperson for the Archdiocese, I have been intimately involved with this week’s events.  I can only tell you what I know, and how I personally have come to terms with all this.

Young people’s lives were shattered… there was indeed much pain and suffering, and the handful of priests not only brutally damaged their victims; their actions also brutally challenged our faith.  But, mostly what I’ve come to realize this week, these months, is that this is a horrible chapter of our PAST… in Hartford, these events took place mostly 30 + years ago.

Also, what I know is that the Archdiocese is not backing away from that past… rather, we are facing the challenge to learn from these very sick mistakes, and never to allow history to repeat itself.  In reaching this settlement, the dollars are a symbol of the Church’s pain and sorrow, and a plea for forgiveness.  This settlement is just part of a comprehensive program the Archdiocese has in place to make sure that, never never again will a child suffer at the hands of anyone who is associated with the Church.  The Archdiocese is proactive in keeping our children safe.

We have established a Safe Environment Program which is being implemented in Archdiocesan elementary schools and in parishes.  It sensitizes children and young people to the sad fact that not all adults should be trusted.  It teaches them how to protect themselves from predators.

All archdiocesan clergy, employees and adult volunteers who deal with children on a regular basis are required to attend an intense training session on sexual abuse.  And, complete background checks are done on all these employees and volunteers.

The Archdiocese has in place a Review Board, consisting mainly of lay-persons not employed by the Archdiocese.  They are responsible for the independent review of any charges of sexual abuse and serve as advisors to the Archbishop.  Of course, any claims of abuse are immediately reported to the State Department of Children and Families.  And, full cooperation is given to the authorities.

The Archdiocese has a Victim Assistance Coordinator who works closely with all victims with an offer of therapy, and pastoral care by Archbishop Mansell.

The Archdiocese of Hartford is in full compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People established by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2002.

We’ve learned a great deal.  Forty years ago, very little was known about pedophilia.  It was believed to be treatable, and rehabilitation was wrongly assumed in many cases.  Today’s Church leaders are working very diligently to make sure that children are safe from sexual abuse everywhere… not only clerical sexual abuse… but the even more prevalent abuse that happens in the home, by families and friends, and strangers.

When I read the details of these cases in the news, I like you, cringe… my heart is broken for the victims… my heart is also broken for the rest of us who knew and trusted this handful of sick men who called themselves our spiritual leaders.  But, in my heart I know that the vast majority of my brother priests are good, dedicated, prayerful men who hate these events as much as I do.  I also know that the sins of a few urgently remind me of my need for faith… and for hope and love.  One answer is prayer.  Prayers for healing, for forgiveness, for changes of heart.  And, of course, prayers for the future… that no child will ever be caused to suffer again, at the hands of any vile predator, and that the Archdiocese and our Archbishop continue on their vigilant chosen path, leading the way for society, to protect our children.

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Rachel's Vineyard
There’s hope and healing to be found after an abortion at Rachel’s Vineyard. For more information on the organization, contact Marie at 203-631-9030, email her at mlaffin@prolifeministry.org, or visit www.rachelsvineyard.org.
Blessed Assurance

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