By Catholic Weekly, 11 April 2010

Most Australians are Chris­tians and therefore celebrate Easter for what it is – the solemn commemoration of the death and resurrection of Our Lord, the anniversary of the salvation of humanity, the beginning of the Church, the cause of hope for our world, said Bishop Anthony Fisher OP, Bishop of Parra­matta.

The bishop said it is “great news” that Parramatta City Council is willing to recognise the reason for “the Easter holidays”. The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported religious banners featuring crucifixes were put up across Sydney’s west by Parramatta City Council who have grown “tired of political correctness”.

The council voted to illustrate half its banners with Easter eggs and bunnies while making the rest “representative of Christian Eas­ter celebrations”.

The council gave up being politically correct at Christ­mas when it voted to take down decorations and change the banner slogan from Seasons Greetings to Merry Christmas.

At Easter about 70 signs, half with fluffy bunnies and coloured eggs and half with three wooden crucifixes, with the slogan “Parramatta City Council wishes you a Happy Easter”, were hung in Harris Park, Parramatta, Granville, Dundas, Erming­ton, Guild­ford and Winston Hills at libraries, community centres, theatres, pools, malls and at the council chambers.

Bishop Fisher said: “Per­haps out here in the West there’s not as much anti-Christian ideology. And they are willing to celebrate diversity.

“Recently the city council has also celebrated Indian-Australian culture and the Parramatta Eels football team so this isn’t some sort of Vatican take-over.

“It's simply a recognition that this is an important time in the lives of many people.”

Independent councillor Michael McDermott told the Telegraph: “There’s nothing offensive about it … we have had a lot of traditional celebrations marginalised under political correctness.

“I think we have moved on beyond this nonsense notion that celebrating our traditions will offend any of our residents.

“It’s time for other cities to wake up and realise that no one is offended, in fact residents of other faiths and backgrounds are breathing a sigh of relief that some sense has been brought back to the debate.” 

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