Clerical cant

Fr Tim Hazelwood, a priest of the diocese of Cloyne, appeared on the Joe Duffy Show yesterday.

He gave an account of the trials and tribulations he encountered when an anonymous person made false accusations against him.

Tim Hazelwood is a fine and honourable man, indeed an outstanding person.

During his long, personal and at times emotional account of his ordeal he mentiond those who helped and supported him. On a number of occasions he referred to the great help he receved from the ACP - The Association of Catholic Priests.

During the interview he never once spoke of his bishop.

With few miniscule exceptions the Irish Catholic Church is void of any sort of leadership. Bishops and provincials seem to be men whose strongest charateristc is to say yes to authority.

Too many of them seldom if ever engage in any significant way with their priests. There is little or no dialogue or communication outside a sham formulaic nonsense.

Too many of them give the impression of being small careerists, who can't engage in any sort of encounter outside the clerical cant.