35 Facts About Anthony Fisher

Anthony Fisher served as the third Bishop of Parramatta from 4 March 2010 to 12 November 2014, having previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Sydney.

Anthony Fisher was baptised at St Therese's Church, Lakemba and attended the parish school in 1965 and 1966.

The Anthony Fisher family lived in Belmore, Canterbury and Wiley Park before moving to Longueville and Manly.

Anthony Fisher attended St Michael's Primary School in Lane Cove, Holy Cross College Ryde and Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview, where he was dux in 1977.

Anthony Fisher studied at the University of Sydney for six years, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in history with first-class honours and a Bachelor of Laws.

Anthony Fisher then practised law at the commercial law firm Clayton Utz where he drafted contracts for the redevelopment of the Queen Victoria Building.

Anthony Fisher took leave from his job as a lawyer to go backpacking around Europe to discern his vocation.

Anthony Fisher entered the Order of Preachers in 1985 and studied for the priesthood in Melbourne, receiving an honours degree in theology from the Yarra Theological Union, a member institution of the Melbourne College of Divinity.

Anthony Fisher worked for a time at Uniya, a centre for social research in Kings Cross, on immigration and refugee issues, and at Holy Name Parish in Wahroonga, Sydney.

Anthony Fisher was ordained to the priesthood at Holy Name Church in Wahroonga by Eusebius Crawford OP, Bishop of Gizo, on 14 September 1991.

Anthony Fisher undertook doctoral studies in bioethics at the University of Oxford until 1995, matriculating from University College, while residing at Blackfriars Hall.

From 1995 to 2000, Anthony Fisher was a lecturer at the Australian Catholic University in Melbourne.

Anthony Fisher is ex officio chancellor of the Catholic Institute of Sydney and adjunct professor of bioethics at the University of Notre Dame Australia.

Anthony Fisher has had various engagements in parish life and the pastoral care of dying and disabled people.

Anthony Fisher was appointed an auxiliary bishop of Sydney and titular Bishop of Buruni by Pope John Paul II on 16 July 2003 and consecrated by Cardinal George Pell at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, on 3 September 2003.

Anthony Fisher took "Speaking the truth in love" as his episcopal motto.

Anthony Fisher was the parish priest of Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Watsons Bay and Episcopal Vicar for Life and Health in the Archdiocese of Sydney, as well as serving on the Australian Bishops' Commission for Doctrine and Morals and as chair of the Catholic Schools Board, chair of the Catholic Education Commission of New South Wales, deputy chancellor of the Catholic Institute of Sydney and an adjunct professor at the University of Notre Dame Australia.

Anthony Fisher has been a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life since 2004.

Anthony Fisher was the organiser of World Youth Day 2008 held in Sydney.

Anthony Fisher was named the third Bishop of Parramatta by Pope Benedict XVI on 8 January 2010 and was installed on 4 March 2010 in St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta.

Under his episcopate, Anthony Fisher continued as chair of the Catholic Education Commission of New South Wales and adjunct professor in theology at the University of Notre Dame Australia.

Anthony Fisher was a member of the company of the Australian Catholic University and served as a member of the Australian Bishops' Commission for Pastoral Life, as chair of the Anti-Euthanasia Task Force and as the Bishops' Delegate for Youth.

Anthony Fisher issued a number of pastoral letters to priests and the faithful of the diocese on the themes of confession, pastoral planning, the child abuse crisis, Personal Vocation and the Eucharist.

The next day, Anthony Fisher called for harmony in the community in light of counter-terrorism raids that had just begun.

On 13 August 2015, Anthony Fisher debated moral philosopher Peter Singer at the Sydney Town Hall about the legalisation of euthanasia.

Anthony Fisher argued that euthanasia, "creates two classes of people: those whose lives we value and those whose lives we don't" and that while comforting people through their suffering requires more from society, it places more value on humanity and endorses the intrinsic value of life.

Anthony Fisher received intensive care treatment, physiotherapy and rehabilitation at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, before moving to Mount Wilga Rehabilitation Centre.

Anthony Fisher stated that the "Church in Australia is going through a period of public scrutiny and self-examination" and expressed his hope that it "will emerge from this purified, humbler, more compassionate and spiritually regenerated".

Anthony Fisher called on the government to honour its commitment to take in Syrian Christian refugees and put in place common-sense policies regarding refugees and asylum seekers in light of the exposition of abuse suffered by detainees in offshore processing centres.

Anthony Fisher stated that it was a "matter of striking a balance" although adding that "[he did not] know all the answers".

In March 2017, Anthony Fisher stated that businesses such as Qantas and Telstra should not sponsor Pride events aimed at supporting LGBT staff or encouraging non-discrimination, nor lobby in favour of the legalisation of same-sex marriage.

Anthony Fisher accused private sector chief executives of applying "pink bans" to other companies or executives that did not support such issues.

Anthony Fisher said that religious believers would be vulnerable to discrimination suits and could even lose their jobs if same-sex marriage is legalised.

Anthony Fisher wrote a letter to all parents of children in Catholic schools across New South Wales to advise them to vote no to a change in the law.

Anthony Fisher denied all allegations that the Catholic Church was asking for special treatment for its schools with respect to funding and stated that whilst, on a cursory examination, needs-based funding seemed equitable, it would disproportionately affect students from poor socioeconomic backgrounds in low-fee Catholic schools.