Shameful Statement from Archbishop Anthony Fisher on January 26

From the Facebook Page of Archbishop Anthony Fisher 26 January 2022

Image used on the Archbishop's Post without credit

Friends, I am looking forward to celebrating an Australia Day Mass later today at Domus Australia in Rome.

During the Mass, we will include what is sometimes called a lost verse of our national anthem, Advance Australia Fair. It is the only openly religious verse and I share it with you today as we pray that our nation might imitate the Christian values of truth, goodness and beauty, fidelity, sacrifice and love:

With Christ our head and cornerstone,

We'll build our Nation's might.

Whose way and truth and light alone

Can guide our path aright.

Our lives, a sacrifice of love, reflect our Master's care.

With faces turned to heaven above, Advance Australia Fair.

In joyful strains then let us sing, Advance Australia Fair.

As a Catholic I find this post from Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP offensive in the extreme. He fails to acknowledge the First Nations peoples in his text and adds insult to the community by the pseudo-patriotic image he has chosen to use.

As for this claim to be promoting a "lost verse" of the National Anthem I say "bollocks your grace"!!! He has not quoted any source for this verse which by the way fails to honour the religious diversity of Australia.The verse is also demolished in this article about the histor yof the song.

The Commonwealth owns copyright in the words of the Australian National Anthem as proclaimed. It also holds copyright to particular arrangements of music of the Australian National Anthem. As such those who include this verse in public singing of the anthem are in breach of copyright . Not a good look for the Archbishop of Sydney to be promoting.

Shameful leadership indeed!!!