Gregory John Hartmayer

{{Infobox Christian leader

| type = archbishop

| honorific-prefix = His Excellency, The Most Reverend

| name = Gregory John Hartmayer

| honorific_suffix = OFM Conv.

| title = Archbishop of Atlanta

| image = Archbishop_Gregory_Hartmayer.jpg

| church = Catholic

| see = Atlanta

| appointed = March 5, 2020

| term_start = May 6, 2020

| retired =

| predecessor = Wilton Daniel Gregory

| successor =

| other_post =

| previous_post = Bishop of Savannah
(2011-2020)

| ordination = May 5, 1979

| ordained_by = Howard James Hubbard

| consecration = October 18, 2011

| consecrated_by = Wilton Daniel Gregory,
J. Kevin Boland, and Luis Rafael Zarama

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1951|11|21}}

| birth_place = Buffalo, New York,
United States

| death_date =

| death_place =

| buried =

| education = Boston College
Emmanuel College
St. Anthony-on-Hudson Seminary
St. Hyacinth College and Seminary

| parents = John W. & Sally Hartmayer

| alma_mater =

| motto = {{Ubl | {{Lang|la|Pax et bonum}} | ({{langx|en|Peace and good}})}}

}}

{{Infobox bishopstyles

| name= Gregory John Hartmayer

| dipstyle= {{Blist | His Excellency | The Most Reverend }}

| offstyle=Your Excellency

| relstyle=Archbishop

| image = Coat of arms of Gregory John Hartmayer (Atlanta).svg

| image_size = 200px

}}

Gregory John Hartmayer, O.F.M. Conv. (born November 21, 1951) is an American Catholic prelate who has served as archbishop of Atlanta in Georgia since 2020. From 2011 to 2020, Hartmayer served as bishop of Savannah. He is a member of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual.

Biography

=Early life=

Gregory Hartmayer was born on November 21, 1951, in Buffalo, New York, one of four children of John and Sally Hartmayer.{{cite news|work=Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah|title=Biography of Bishop–elect Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv.|url=http://www.diosav.org/bishop-elect-biography|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007041926/http://www.diosav.org/bishop-elect-biography|archive-date=October 7, 2011}} He has two brothers and a sister. He was raised in Tonawanda, New York, receiving his early education at St. Amelia School in that town. Hartmayer graduated from Cardinal O'Hara High School in Tonawanda in 1969.{{cite news |last=Habuda |first=Janice L. |date=July 20, 2011 |title=Tonawanda native is next bishop for Georgia diocese |url=http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/tonawanda/article494656.ece |work=The Buffalo News}}

After graduating from high school, Hartmayer joined the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, at the St. Joseph Cupertino Friary in Ellicott City, Maryland.{{cite news |date=July 19, 2011 |work=United States Conference of Catholic Bishops |title=Pope Accepts Resignation of Cardinal Rigali of Philadelphia, Names Archbishop Chaput to Succeed Him; Accepts Resignation of Bishop Boland of Savannah, Georgia, Names Franciscan Pastor to Succeed Him |url=http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2011/11-142E.shtml}} He took his simple vows as a Conventual Franciscan friar on August 15, 1970, before making his solemn profession on August 15, 1973. Hartmayer also studied at St. Hyacinth College and Seminary in Granby, Massachusetts, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in philosophy degree in 1974.

From 1974 to 1975, Hartmeyer taught at Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore, Maryland. He then returned to New York to study at St. Anthony-on-Hudson Seminary in Rensselaer, New York, receiving a Master of Theology degree in 1979.

=Ordination and ministry=

Hartmayer was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, New York, for the Conventual Franciscans by Bishop Howard J. Hubbard on May 5, 1979.{{cite web |website=Catholic-Hierarchy.org |title=Bishop Gregory John Hartmayer, O.F.M. Conv. |url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bhartma.html}} The Franciscans then assigned Hartmayer to Archbishop Curley High School, where he served as a guidance counselor and teacher (1979 to 1985) and as principal (1985 to 1988). In 1980, Hartmayer earned a Master of Arts degree in pastoral counseling from Emmanuel College in Boston.

The Franciscans in 1988 transferred Hartmeyer back to Tonawanda to serve as principal of Cardinal O'Hara High School. After one year there, he became principal of St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, New York in 1989. Hartmayer received a Master of Education degree in secondary Catholic school administration from Boston College in 1992.

Following a three-month sabbatical at St. Patrick Seminary in Menlo Park, California, Hartmayer briefly served as an instructor at John Carroll Catholic High School in Fort Pierce, Florida, in 1995. In August of that year, the Franciscans assigned Hartmeyer as pastor of St. Philip Benizi Parish in Jonesboro, Georgia. He became pastor of St. John Vianney Parish in Lithia Springs, Georgia, in July 2010.

=Bishop of Savannah=

File:Coat of arms of Gregory John Hartmayer.svg

On July 19, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Hartmayer as bishop of Savannah.{{cite press release | language = it | access-date = March 5, 2020 | date= July 19, 2011 | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2011/07/19/0442/01107.html | website= Holy See Press Office | title= Rinunce e Nomine, 19.07.2011 }} His episcopal consecration took place on October 18, 2011, at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah, Georgia.{{cite press release |url=http://www.diosav.org/bishop-elect-newsrelease |title=Pope Accepts Resignation of Bishop Boland; Appoints Franciscan Father Gregory Hartmayer |first=Barbara D. |last=King |date=July 19, 2011 |website=Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah |access-date=July 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007041900/http://www.diosav.org/bishop-elect-newsrelease |archive-date=October 7, 2011}} His principal consecrator was Archbishop Wilton Gregory, with Bishops J. Kevin Boland and Luis Zarama as co-consecrators.

The diocese reached a settlement in 2016 of $4.5 million with a man who accused Reverend Wayland Brown, a diocesan priest, of sexually abusing him in the 1980s. Authorities could not criminally charge Brown with this offense due to the statute of limitations on these crimes. Already defrocked, Brown was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2018 on other sexual abuse charges.{{Cite web |agency=Associated Press |title=Lawsuit: Diocese of Savannah covered up sex abuse allegations by former priest in 1980s |url=https://www.blufftontoday.com/story/news/2020/09/30/lawsuit-diocese-savannah-covered-up-sex-abuse-allegations-1980-s/5870090002/ |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=Bluffton Today |language=en-US}}

In November 2018, Hartmayer released a list of 16 clergy from the diocese with credible accusations of sexual abuse of minors.{{Cite web |last=Skutch |first=Jan |title=Savannah bishop releases accused priest child abuser names |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2018/11/12/savannah-bishop-releases-16-accused-priest-child-abuser-names/6231831007/ |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=Savannah Morning News |language=en-US}} When Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced an investigation in May 2019 into sexual abuse claims against Catholic clergy in Georgia, Hartmayer pledged the full support of the diocese.{{Cite web |last=Bloomberg |first=Michelle Boorstein The Washington Post WP |title=Georgia AG opens sex abuse investigation of the state's Catholic Church |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2019/05/01/georgia-ag-opens-sex-abuse-investigation-of-states-catholic-church/5289909007/ |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=Savannah Morning News |language=en-US}}

While serving in Savannah, Hartmayer renovated two parish schools, built three new churches, erected a new parish and opened a new high school. He also attended school and parish celebrations throughout the diocese{{Cite web |title=Archbishop Gregory John Hartmayer, OFM Conv. {{!}} Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta {{!}} Atlanta, GA |url=https://archatl.com/about/archbishop-and-bishops/archbishop-gregory-john-hartmayer-ofm-conv/ |access-date=2024-12-20 |language=en-US}}

Hartmayer was appointed to the board of directors of the National Catholic Educational Association in 2019. He was appointed chair of the board in 2024.{{Cite web |last= |title=Hartmayer to head National Catholic Educational Association board |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/257934/atlanta-archbishop-to-head-national-catholic-educational-association-board |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=Catholic News Agency |language=en}}

=Archbishop of Atlanta=

Pope Francis appointed Hartmayer as archbishop of Atlanta on March 5, 2020.{{cite press release | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2020/03/05/0142/00308.html | language = it | access-date = March 5, 2020 | date = March 5, 2020 | website=Holy See Press Office | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 05.03.2020}}{{cite news |url=https://georgiabulletin.org/news/2020/03/pope-francis-names-new-archbishop-for-the-archdiocese-of-atlanta/ |title= Pope Francis names new archbishop for the Archdiocese of Atlanta |date = March 5, 2020 | work = Georgia Bulletin | access-date=March 5, 2020}} He was installed on May 6, 2020, in the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta.{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Jeff |date=May 6, 2020 |title=Former Savannah bishop installed in Atlanta as archbishop – at a distance |language=en |work=Savannah Morning News |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/news/20200506/former-savannah-bishop-installed-in-atlanta-as-archbishop-ndash-at-distance |access-date=May 9, 2020 |archive-date=March 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306124532/https://www.savannahnow.com/news/20200506/former-savannah-bishop-installed-in-atlanta-as-archbishop-ndash-at-distance |url-status=dead }} The ceremony was held behind closed doors, with only a few attendees due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|title=Atlanta's new archbishop is installed in quiet ceremony|url=https://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2020/atlanta-s-new-archbishop-is-installed-in-quiet-ceremony.cfm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200514025254/https://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2020/atlanta-s-new-archbishop-is-installed-in-quiet-ceremony.cfm|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 14, 2020|website=Catholic News Service|date=May 7, 2020|access-date=May 12, 2020|first1=Andrew |last1=Nelson |first2=Samantha |last2=Smith}} Church journalist Rocco Palmo stated that Hartmayer was Gregory's "chosen successor."{{Cite tweet |number=1328504843154153473 |user=roccopalmo |title={{nbsp}}... Atlanta's +Hartmayer: {{nbsp}}... Card Wilton's chosen successor. |last=Palmo |first=Rocco |author-link=Rocco Palmo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117012118/https://twitter.com/roccopalmo/status/1328504843154153473 |archive-date=November 17, 2020}}

When the Satanic Temple of Atlanta scheduled a black mass in that city in October 2024, Hartmayer announced possible legal action if the organizers planned to use consecrated host in the ceremony. However, they assured the archdiocese that they did not have any sacramental bread, nor were planning to obtain any.{{Cite web |last= |title=Satanic Temple denies it intends to desecrate the Eucharist |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/260107/satanic-temple-denies-it-intends-to-desecrate-the-eucharist-during-planned-black-mass |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=Catholic News Agency |language=en}}

Hartmayer is a member of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Communications and the Committee on National Collections and chair of the Subcommittee on the Catholic Communication Campaign.

Viewpoints

= Immigration =

In June 2020, Hartmayer expressed his approval of the US Supreme Court decision that prevented the Trump Administration from terminating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program for the children of undocumented immigrants. He stated:

The Catholic Church will continue to accompany our brothers and sisters on this journey and to pursue solutions to the complex issues of migration, immigration refugee resettlement and securing our borders.{{Cite web |last=Golden |first=Nichole |date=2020-06-19 |title=Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer supports Dreamers in June 19 statement - Georgia Bulletin |url=https://georgiabulletin.org/news/2020/06/archbishop-gregory-j-hartmayer-supports-dreamers-in-june-19-statement/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=georgiabulletin.org |language=en-US}}

= Racism =

In November 2021, Hartmeyer commented on the conviction of three white men in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, an African-American man, in Glynn County, Georgia:{{Cite web |date=2021-11-26 |title=Archbishop: Arbery verdict does not bring him back, but advances justice |url=https://catholicreview.org/archbishop-arbery-verdict-does-not-bring-him-back-but-advances-justice/ |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=Catholic Review |language=en-US}}

“We are called to acknowledge and root out racism in our neighborhoods, schools, workplaces and yes, even our churches. I hope you will join me in prayer, peace and restorative works of justice in this cause of respecting the human dignity of all.”

= War =

In 2023, Hartmayer participated in a ceremony with Jewish and Muslim religious leaders to commemorate the dead from the conflicts in Israel, Gaza and Ukraine.{{Cite web |last=Golden |first=Nichole |date=2023-12-22 |title=Religious leaders join Archbishop Hartmayer to pray for peace - Georgia Bulletin |url=https://georgiabulletin.org/news/2023/12/religious-leaders-join-archbishop-hartmayer-to-pray-for-peace/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=georgiabulletin.org |language=en-US}}