Tim Hazelwood’s reply to Garry O’Sullivan in The Irish Catholic 12 Feb 2026

I enjoy listening to Brendan O’Connor interviewing. He is not afraid of difficult questions that lead people to go deeper, and in doing so exposing his own vulnerability. I feel as if I know him.

Last Sunday he spoke with Seán Scully, the famous abstract artist. Skilfully led by the host, Scully spoke about the chaotic childhood he lived through and how he believed the experience influenced his take on the world and that he believed in a subconscious way it still drives and inspires his art.

In my training as a psychotherapist I learned the importance of awareness of the unconscious process at work. Likewise it is important for me as a priest to be aware of prejudices that may be at work in my dealing with people.

Recently, I wrote an article for the ACP website reflecting on the just-published Privacy Policy for Priests/Deacons in the Diocese of Cloyne. To my knowledge it is the first time such a policy has been published by any Diocese or Religious Order. However, this policy differs from the policy that applies to other workers in the Catholic Church (teachers, doctors and-nurses) in that inaccurate information can be filed and there is no formal Complaints Procedure.

In the article I also stated: A recent disturbing development has been the naming of 14 deceased Jesuit priests by the Order after examining their files. Those men could not defend their names, neither could they enter into a Complaints Procedure. Who knows if all the information on their files is accurate? Were their next of kin informed before any announcement was made?

My interest in this issue began with my personal experience of being falsely accused of sex abuse and the management of ‘my file’ by the diocese. I was not supported by the institution during this time and it was only with the help of the ACP I was able to clear my name. Since joining the ACP Leadership Team I now support priests, diocesan and religious, who are in trouble and, more often than not, feel abandoned. Again, in this area, I have to be careful not to allow my own personal experience to influence my response to my fellow priests.

I am not a journalist. I work as a diocesan priest and have done so for the past 44 years. I write on issues of justice around the care and support of priests because I believe priests and deacons deserve to be treated with the same respect and dignity that should be accorded to everyone else. It is wrong that the files and records of priests are treated differently than other workers in the Church.

It is also noted that all mention of support (material and psychological) for priests and deacons has been removed from the latest safeguarding document, A Safe and Welcoming Church: Safeguarding Children Policy and Standards 2024.

Last week, a friend sent me a copy of an article written by Garry O’Sullivan in the 12 Feb 2026 edition of The Irish Catholic based on what I had written on the ACP website. My first reaction was a certain satisfaction that this paper relies on the ACP for content.

In his article, Garry O’Sullivan’s robust defence of the procedure put in place by the Jesuit Order in naming their deceased colleagues seemed to suggest that he could be mistaken for a spokesman rather than journalist. He interprets words that I used and accuses me of using insinuation. My motivation was very simple – it comes from personal experience of dealing with the institution and how quickly it can excuse itself of responsibility.

It is somewhat ironic that Catholic media, while it bemoans the lack of vocations, fails to call out the Church leaders in their dealing with clergy.

I remain grateful for the existence of ACP which allows a forum for honest and open debate and is committed to supporting priests and deacons without fear or favour.

The whole debacle around priests’ personal files would make an interesting issue for Brendan O’Connor…if a bishop were willing to be interviewed.