The Catholic Weekly 10 January 2021

catholicweekly.com.au 2 NEWS 10, January, 2021 BISHOP GEOFFREY Robin- son, a former auxiliary bishop of Sydney, died on 29 Decem- ber after a long battle with ter- minal illness. He was 83. Archbishop Anthony Fish- er OP paid tribute to the late Bishop, who recently marked 60 years of priesthood and was a bishop for 36 years. “I saw Bishop Robinson before his death and he was impressively peaceful, prayer- ful and looking forward to go- ing to the Father,” Archbishop Fisher said in a statement is- sued after Bishop Robinson’s death. “In this life he served in parishes, as a canon lawyer and law lecturer, and as an auxiliary bishop of Sydney. In the latter role he was very helpful to me when I was first appointed as an auxiliary bishop alongside him. He long contributed to the governance of Catholic education in NSW and, again, graciously helped with the ‘handover’ to me of the Catholic schools portfolio in Sydney and statewide. “Bishop Robinson was an outspoken voice for the vic- tims of child sexual abuse within the Church and the need for just redress and ef- fective child protection going forward. He was undoubted- ly one of the most influential figures in moving the Church forward on these matters,” the Archbishop said. “Whether or not one agreed with all his proposals for Church reform, there was no gainsaying Bishop Rob- inson’s insistence that in the “Professional Standards” area we can never “tick the box” but must always be vigilant and improving our systems. “A scholar of canon law and Retired prelate recently celebrated 60 years of priestly life Bishop returns to the Father scripture, Bishop Robinson continued to write and give public talks in his retirement. “He battled cancer bravely through his last years. May he Rest In Peace,” the Archbish- op said. As T he Catholic Week- ly went to press, the funeral Mass for BishopRobinsonwas due to be held on Wednesday 6 January at St Joseph’s Parish in Enfield, where the Bishop lived in retirement. Bishop Emeritus Geoffrey Robinson pictured in 2008. PHOTO: DR SHAFER INGRID SHAFER, CC BY-SA 3.0 I n this edition Our story begins in 1839 with the Australasian Chronicle, continuing with the Freeman’s Journal in 1850. Level 13, Polding Centre, 133 Liverpool Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. Phone (02) 9390 5400 | Vol 73, No 5166. The Catholic Weekly is published by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney ABN 60 471 267 587 and is printed by ACM Australian Community Media, 159 Bells Line of Road, North Richmond NSW, 2754. SUB-EDITOR Peter Rosengren (02) 9390 5400 REPORTERS Marilyn Rodrigues (02) 9390 5410 David Ryan (02) 9390 5408 Debbie Cramsie (02) 9390 5396 SUBSCRIPTIONS Rita Ng (02) 9390 5411 ADVERTISING AND MARKETING Steve Richards (02) 9390 5404 DESIGNERS Renate Cassis Mathew De Sousa News Archbishop’s homily Feature story Movies, books 1-5, 8 6-7 10-11 16-17 Faith in the trajectory of life catch it now at: thiscatholiclife.com.au LEAVE A GIFT Archdiocese of Sydney Catholic CHARITIES Order your FREE Wills and Bequests Guide today 1800 753 959 or [email protected] myWill SUPPORTINGTHE MINISTRIES OF THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY Leaving a gift in a Call 02 9649 6423 or visit www.catholiccemeteries.com.au Consecrated lawns and chapels Sydney’s only Catholic crematorium Monthly mass for the Repose of Souls Funeral directors available for a Catholic service Bereavement pastoral care Serving the Catholic community for over 150 years Bishop Robinson was an outspoken voice for the victims of child sexual abuse within the Church and the need for just redress and effective child protection going forward.” Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP