Catholic Archbishop warns against 'identity politics' and 'narcissism'

Sydney's Catholic Archbishop, Anthony Fisher, has warned against "endemic" narcissism and "safe spaces" in a Christmas morning homily focusing on society's potentially "distorting" obsession with identity politics.

Addressing a standing room-only crowd of almost 2000 worshippers at St Mary's Cathedral on Wednesday morning, the senior clergyman described modern civilisation as being in an "era of liquid personality" and "self-generated identities" often aligned with ethnicity, sexuality, professions and politics.

Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, at the Christmas service at St Mary's Cathedral.Credit: Janie Barrett

"Sometimes it's just code for self-indulgence. We humour our preferences with the excuse 'it's who we are'. No need to abide by laws of faith and reason, or to compromise to the needs of others. Safe spaces and trigger warnings coddle our fragile egos," Archbishop Fisher said.

"As desires change, we can revise our bodies surgically or our beliefs ideologically. But reducing ourselves to our tastes or to a single attribute risks neglecting other important things about us.

"Amidst celebrity adulation and identity politics, narcissism is now endemic. Too much focus on identity can be distorting."

Archbishop Fisher said there were "forces" that sought to marginalise the Christian identity in particular.

Safe spaces and trigger warnings coddle our fragile egos

Archbishop Anthony Fisher

"But your presence here today speaks volumes. It says that our core identity as Christians graces us to be, not just better believers, but better friends and lovers, children and parents, citizens and colleagues," he said.

His address followed a Christmas video posted online by former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, suggesting God was the solution to climate change, and Australians would "get nailed" unless they acknowledged there was a "higher authority".

In his Christmas Eve message, Prime Minister Scott Morrison acknowledged the "tremendous spirit" of Australians in the face of drought and bushfires, a sentiment reflected in the sermon of Sydney's Anglican Archbishop Glenn Davies, who paid special tribute to firefighters Geoffrey Keaton and Andrew O’Dwyer, who died fighting the Green Wattle Creek fire, south-west of Sydney.

"To our firies, to the volunteers, to SES (State Emergency Service) and emergency workers as they work on our behalf this day. As we have our holiday, they are working for us," Dr Davies said during a packed out Christmas morning service at St Andrews Cathedral.

"This is the message of Christmas that can come to them. God is with us and only that hope enables us to embrace the difficulties of living in this life, the suffering the death and despair."

Hillsong churches similarly preached that Christmas was a time to bring the message that God was there for people facing great hardship.