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	Recalling a Humble Priest Bishop Hart Left an Impression on More Than Just Catholics in the Region. The Day January 16, 2008 http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=88a1b302-4977-42bd-9a6d-feac0fbb7257 The impression one had in meeting Bishop Daniel A. Hart was that this was a humble man. That may seem an odd fit for a person who sat at the top of the diocesan hierarchy, but in the case of Bishop Hart the quality seemed entirely appropriate. Bishop Hart, the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Norwich, died on Monday at age 80. He served as bishop from 1995 to 2003. Friends and associates asked to comment in the wake of his passing all returned to similar phrases — humility, a quiet strength and sincerity. His low-key demeanor could not have contrasted more with his predecessor, Bishop Daniel P. Reilly, who was gregarious and engaging. Yet Bishop Hart gained respect in his own understated way, visiting every parish in the expansive diocese and spreading his message — "Do not be afraid." According to the Bible, that message was the same the shepherds received from the angels who arrived to tell them about the birth of the Christ child. Bishop Hart was forever reassuring his flock that if they had faith they had nothing to fear. It was in that spirit that he reached out to other religious communities. In 2000 he appeared before the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut in New London and apologized for former Catholic teachings that characterized Jewish people as "unfaithful, hypocritical and God-killers" and in so doing "contributed to the attitudes that made the Holocaust possible." Jerry Fischer, executive director of the federation, remembers the confession for past church sins not being made in a rote manner, but rather in a heartfelt fashion that had a profound effect on Holocaust survivors living in our community. In 2002, Bishop Hart likewise offered an apology for the suffering inflicted by priests who had sexually abused children. "I am saddened by this and I ask for forgiveness," Bishop Hart said. It was also under Bishop Hart's watch that the public Way of the Cross, held on the streets of Norwich every Good Friday to recall the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, became an ecumenical event involving several Christian churches and denominations. The change risked alienating some Catholics, but Bishop Hart was not afraid and the result was a more powerful faith experience for participants. This humble priest will be missed not only by local Catholics, but by the greater community as well.
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