The problem is rights of churches, LGBTI are incompatible

I write a propos Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher’s article (“ALRC ‘reforms’ a betrayal of faith among our leaders”, 25/3). It is clear the Australian Law Reform Commission is putting the right of people of faith to educate their children in accordance with their faith, a right recognised in international law, and to provide medical and hospital treatment in accordance with that faith, second to the rights of the LGBTI-plus community.

Both these communities have rights. But they are incompatible. The problem for the Albanese government is how to reconcile them. It won’t do simply to ignore history and cast aside that with which we should be very proud.

Geoffrey Horgan KC, Kew East, Vic

The Australian Law Reform Commission has set up a straw man of intolerant religious schools to justify the removal of the exemptions included in human rights legislation (“Parents back schools’ right to sack teachers”, 25/3). In practice, these religious schools are inclusive and show considerable tolerance in their choice of staff and enrolment of students. It is quite right, however, that their ethos should be made public so that prospective staff and students would not seek admission – unless it be to challenge these beliefs.

I have taught in government, Catholic, Protestant and Jewish schools and have never seen examples of intolerance, although I have encountered gay teachers and students, many divorcees and de factos, and even gender-transitioning students.

The rapid expansion of low-fee Christian schools, like low-fee Catholic schools, presents a challenge to government schools and, as Norwest Christian College principal Felicity Marlow says, parents of all faiths are voting with their feet. It appears that the ALRC is acting at the behest of the intolerant left.

John Morrissey, Hawthorn, Vic

I share Archbishop Anthony Fisher’s concerns (“Archbishop’s dire warning: we’re losing our religion”, 25/3). Churches attract much criticism but many provide invaluable service to the community; they are not just holy huddles for an hour on a Sunday morning. In vibrant, well-attended churches (they exist) there are activities going on every day. Loneliness is a scourge in our society: churches do much to address this.

Roseanne Schneider, Toowoomba, Qld

In the early 1970s Lionel Murphy, the far-left leader of the Whitlam government in the Senate, had legislation prepared that could have severely restricted religious freedoms. To its great credit, his own party ensured that the legislation was never debated in the parliament, so objectionable was its apparent intent.

I am not sure today’s Labor Party has the same attitude towards religious freedom shown by the majority of Labor parliamentarians in those days. Let’s hope it does.

David Morrison, Springwood, NSW

One does not have to have faith or be religiously observant to recognise the benefits to society of adhering to Judaeo-Christian traditions. Many feel the ascent of wokism is increasingly challenging traditional values.

In some US states there has been a growing legislative backlash against policies for DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion). If the left’s onslaught persists in Australia, we also may witness similar reactions one day.

John Kempler, Rose Bay, NSW

In the first century BC Roman philosopher poet Lucretius secured a place in history by claiming (astutely for his times) that “there are only atoms and the void”. His other famous claim that there is no supernatural, only the natural, caused few problems in pagan Rome but led to his work being banned after the Christians took over centuries later.

Fortunately, his writings survived and are largely supported by modern knowledge providing natural explanations for almost everything and leaving little room for many supernatural religious claims – so much so, in fact, that church attendances by young people are now very thin and thinning.

With this in mind, I wish Archishop Anthony Fisher the best of luck in his fight against modern-day Lucretians who prefer modern knowledge and thought to that of much more simple times 2000 years ago.

Doug Hurst, Chapman, ACT