Not Jesus

Sir: Damian Thompson (Pope vs church, November 7) is concerned that Pope Francis is compromising “the great strength of the church…its certainty, coherence and immutability.”

I would suggest that anybody who puts their faith in the certainty, coherence and immutability of an institutional organization is bound to be disappointed. That is not what Jesus was about.

The great Cardinal John Henry Newman wrote: “If Christianity be a universal religion, suited not simply to one locality or period but to all times and places, it cannot but vary in its relations and dealing towards the world around it, that is, it will develop.”

As for allowing the divorced and remarried to receive communion Christ did not give anybody a mandate to create new sins where no sin existed.
Mark Porter
6 Ann Parade, New Lambton, NSW

Where have all the poppies gone?

Sir: I find it very sad that there is no concerted effort to supply poppies for Remembrance Day outside the big cities here in Australia. As a British war veteran myself, I was unable to buy one. There was a charity asking for donations on Saturday at our local supermarket, but not a poppy in sight. The idea behind the poppy of Flanders fields was to make a contribution to those who had fought for their country and were now in need of help themselves. Surely this is just as laudable a cause as it was before and that a real fund raising effort should be made to help war veterans here in Australia? I know that Anzac Day has more publicity here, yet Remembrance Day is the really vital day that was supposed to commemorate those who lost their lives in “the war to end all wars”?

Everyone on television seems to be sporting a poppy – I can’t help wondering where they get them from.
(Mrs.) Noreen J. Pryor
Yandina, Queensland

Gen Whinge

Sir: Thank you Brendan O’Neill for (Boomerphobia 14 November).

After grafting for 47 years, paying taxes and being flat broke for the most part I finally managed to put together a nest egg, which, if I’m careful, will see me through.

The Gen Y moaners were almost making me feel guilty.

Almost. But not quite.
Graham Bicknell
Mansfield, Victoria

Honourable honours

Sir: Reading about the ‘undignified saga’ surrounding Jeremy Corbyn’s induction into the Privy Council reminded me of a somewhat similar saga when the then Prime Minister of Australia the Scots-Australian, Andrew Fisher, was inducted into the same body. (Kate Maltby, 13/11, ‘Will the free speech lobby accept Jeremy Corbyn’s right to be a republican?’)

When visiting to Britain on official business in 1911 Fisher was informed that he was to be appointed a ‘Member of His Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council’. Being absolutely opposed in principle to accepting any personal honours and wishing to spend any free time he had with his family and friends in Scotland Fisher begged off attending a Privy Council meeting called especially that he might be sworn as a member, using the excuse of ‘an engagement in Kilmarnock’. Correspondence from the Privy Council to Fisher became increasingly terse as it became clear that he had did not intend to ‘obey the summons for the Privy Council.’ Eventually Fisher was told that the King had consented to his being appointed to the Office by Order in Council. A final letter from the Clerk of the Privy Council informed Fisher that he had been appointed a member of the Privy Council in his absence and to ‘remind you that on the occasion of your next visit to this country it will be necessary for you to be sworn in the usual manner.’ As a lifelong Socialist, a supporter of Women’s Suffrage and of Home Rule for Ireland it is unlikely that in the whole history of this august body there was ever such a reluctant and uncooperative recipient of the ‘honour’ of becoming a Privy Councillor.

Fisher’s staunch refusal to accept any honours was again displayed when, after he was appointed as Australian High Commissioner, the French Government attempted to award Fisher one of France’s highest honours – Legion d’honneur. Fisher had been approached by Monsieur Metin of the French Government regarding the offer of this award. Fisher, as was his response to all such offers, politely refused. Metin, possibly struggling to understand Fisher’s strong Scots accent thought that he had agreed to accept the award. Fisher was mortified when he received congratulatory messages from Australia and items appeared in the press noting his acceptance of the award. Despite the potential embarrassment of the situation Fisher, as always, remained true to his principles and immediately had his staff inform the French and Australian Governments of the misunderstanding and explain that despite his ‘most extreme admiration and appreciation of the French people and the French nation.. he should be permitted to remain without the great honour that was so graciously offered him.’ Fisher also had notices placed in the press retracting the earlier notification of the award!

Corbyn can at least comfort himself with the thought that he is in well trodden and illustrious ground in his travails as a Labour leader attempting to eschew unwanted ‘honours’.
Dr Bill Anderson
Surrey Hills, Melbourne