Israel Folau’s latest Instagram post garnered much controversy and outrage, leading Rugby Australia to handle him a breach notice in where they intend to terminate his four-year, $4-million contract.
His possible termination had some thinking he may come back to the NRL. However, this was quickly slammed shut by ARL Commissioner Peter Beattie.
The Instagram post in question said; “Drunks, Homosexuals, Adulterers, Liars, Fornicators, Thieves, Atheists and Idolaters: Hell awaits. Repent, Jesus Saves”.
The crux of the post was those who commit sin must repent or will go to Hell.
I struggle to see how this is in any way comparable to testing positive for cocaine (Ben Barba, Jesse Bromwich and Kevin Proctor), trafficking steroids overseas (Sandor Earl), punching a man in the face knocking him on floor and then punching him several times on the ground defenceless causing fractures in his face (Russell Packer) or engaging in a gang-related brawl where someone was left badly injured (Manu Ma’u).
Or, in the case of Matthew Lodge, threatening two women by saying “this was the night you will die”, then proceeding to force himself into the apartment the girls were in, headlocking and punching a man trying to stop him from harassing the girls, before smashing furniture in a malevolent rampage.
Or, in the matter of Blake Ferguson, where he was found guiltily of groping a woman without her consent.
These above-mentioned acts even led to jail time for some, but all were welcomed back in the NRL. All of those were criminal offences, while Folau – who committed no crime just merely expressing his religious views – is treated worse then those who committed crimes.
Since we’re on the topic of Instagram, remember Josh Dugan telling a fan to “end himself”?
Freedom of religion is a right under article 18 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. So is Freedom of Speech.
Folau in his post wasn’t not singling out homosexuals in his post but all types of sinners. This isn’t a new concept manufactured for now, but a belief core in the edifice of Christianity for thousands of years. So no-one should be surprised when a devout Christian believes in this.
It is startling that exercising key rights like freedom of speech and religion generates enough vitriol and forbids from playing in the NRL, while people who commit criminal acts are welcomed back.
Ray Paks
Roar Rookie
yeah but look at the 'offenses'! quoting a bible text vs bashing a woman's head in how do you justify that?
Timmy
Guest
He is quoting his Bible , a book been around for thousands of years. It is not a new idea , everyone should know Christians are against homosexuality . He committed no crime or done anything illegal so he made no offence.
Ian Fraser
Guest
Those guys committed an offence, stopped, and then it was over. Folau's publication expresses a view he still has. That's the main difference. Accept a guy who once assaulted someone, you're accepting an ex-offender. Accept Folau and you're accepting an offender.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Deep down, or maybe not so deep, he knows it's all fairy tales, so no sweat.
Paul
Roar Guru
fair enough, Mushi. I don't think he has a leg to stand on personally, but so far we've only had trials by media & social media. No doubt the law will have it's turn soon enough. At least the ARU did something before issuing that intent to terminate letter. Not like Greenburg and co in the NRL who hadn't passed the regulation to stand down JDB before going to the press and telling them he couldn't play?
mushi
Roar Guru
Imaigne you're a homesexual kid that was broiught up in a relgious fmaily and contantly told you'll go to hell jsut becuase of who you are by the poeple you admire. I knew someone like that but he put a cross bow bolt through his chest thanks to people like Folau.
mushi
Roar Guru
Well I did write about that and it got ignored...
mushi
Roar Guru
Doesn't Jesus in the bible also tell Folau to shut the F up? "He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her"
mushi
Roar Guru
Ever heard of the sporting gods? Or where the term Fan is derived from. Also given Folau was happy to represent brands that directly contravened his belief set it is clear that he placed the monetary benefit above the word of his God.
Ben
Roar Guru
"Private" comes in a range of degrees; as in how private you want your account to be. If it's coming up as a "suggested account", no-one is standing by your side forcing you to look at his account. You're the one making that decision.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Does Folau have his Instagram account set to ‘private’ or does he have it open to everyone so that it pops up as a suggested account for anyone that the Instagram algorithms have guessed has an interest in rugby?
mushi
Roar Guru
Then labeling imgainary is inconsequentail.
mushi
Roar Guru
He’s not being “branded” a bigot he is a bigot. I would hope that if you did see me engaging in bigotry that you would have the moral terpitude to stand up rather than be a WWII prison guard in germany.
mushi
Roar Guru
They reportedly put the types of classes you are talking about in his contract after the last go round. They also believe that it is covered in their code of conduct, but they were explicit for him in negotiations.
maccaa62
Guest
Not unlike the account of Jesus and Barrabus . Barrabus was a convicted criminal who the crowd wanted released and Jesus killed.
Nat
Roar Guru
Not being religious is an educated decision, I was raised in a very religious family. I fully respect why people have their faith. I understand IF has great enthusiasm for his faith but not yet the maturity to accept others as they are. I'm merely pointing out the hypocrisy of the bloke to postulate to a largely secular audience from a position of power when he's as guilty as the rest of us.
Steve from down south
Guest
Imagine getting upset at someone for claiming the God you don’t believe in, said in the book you don’t read, that unless you repent of the sin you don’t care about, you’ll go to a place you think doesn’t exist.
Steve from down south
Guest
Imagine getting upset at someone for claiming the God you don’t believe in, said in the book you don’t read, that unless you repent of the sin you don’t care about, you’ll go to a place you think doesn’t exist.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
It looks to me like Izzy knows what he's doing. He knew this would be the result and the reaction along with the world wide publicity. If there is someone lurking up in the clouds he will be mightily impressed with Izzy. If the NRL give him a run he'll probably see that as another chance to spread the word. Pity he lied to the union mob about keeping his views to himself or does a lie for the right reasons mean that you don't end up in hell?
Rob
Guest
For someone that isn’t religious you certainly quote a lot of random scripture. Some old some new. Obviously Israel is homophobic and probably suffering from a lot of head knocks. It’s certainly the ARU’s right to terminate his contract. IF’s comments are boarding on comical and from the gay people I have spoken to they do too. I’m also fairly unhappy about Paul Gallen publicly calling Queenslanders inbred and 2 heads.