Maitland Newcastle Vicar General Barry Tunks asked the community for "respect, sensitivity and compassion" yesterday after the death of controversial Catholic priest Tom Brennan.

The priest died of cancer at Hunter Valley Private Hospital at 5.15pm on Sunday after making history in August as the first Australian clergy member to be charged with concealing the child sex crimes of a notorious paedophile priest.

The late Tom Brennan.

The partner of one of the paedophile priest's victims said there had been too many suicides and attempted suicides for the church to expect compassion.

"The church hasn't had anything to do with whatever justice has been achieved," she said.