Israel Folau is pushing for an apology from Rugby Australia and an admission that its decision to tear up his multi-million dollar contract over a social media post was wrong.
UPDATE: Fox Sports is reporting that Israel Folau and Rugby Australia will head to the Federal Court after both parties were unable to work through their grievances and reach a settlement at the Fair Work Commission.
“Look, very disappointed about the outcome today but I’d like to thank all those who have supported me throughout this time,” Folau said.
“I will continue to stand up for the freedoms of all Australians.”
The dumped Wallaby star was hoping to reach an agreement on Friday.
Rugby Australia has accused Folau of lying about being offered money to take down the offending post.
Folau, his lawyers and representatives from RA and Waratahs Rugby convened for a conciliation meeting in Sydney for the first formal step in his unfair dismissal case.
“Hopefully Rugby Australia will accept that my termination was unlawful and we can reach an agreement about how they can fix that mistake,” the 30-year-old said in a video posted on his website on Friday morning.
“First and foremost, I am hoping for an apology from Rugby Australia and an acknowledgement that even if they disagree with my views, that I should be free to peacefully express my religious beliefs without fear of retribution or exclusion.”
RA sacked Folau after taking issue with a social media post by the committed Christian in April that was condemned as homophobic.
Folau had paraphrased a Bible passage saying “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters” would go to hell unless they repented.
He argues he was unfairly dismissed on religious grounds.
Folau is seeking $10 million in damages from RA and wants his multimillion-dollar contract reinstated.
Folau claimed on Thursday evening RA had offered him money to remove the post that caused the issue, but declined to do so as sharing the bible was part of his duty as a Christian.
“I couldn’t do that as a person that’s convicted by my faith. I couldn’t live with that,” Folau said.
“It certainly comes from a place of love and it’s nothing personal.”
But RA immediately returned serve, saying Folau’s claim was “completely untrue” and they had never offered him money to remove the posts.
More than 20,000 people have donated more than $2.2 million to help fund Folau’s legal battle via a campaign set up by the Australian Christian Lobby.
The ACL effort replaced an earlier campaign on GoFundMe that was taken down by the platform for breaching its service guidelines.
“I want to thank you all for your prayers and your support. You have made it possible for me to stand up for every Australian of faith,” Folau said.
“I know we are strong enough to tolerate different views without firing people from their jobs for expressing religious beliefs that not everybody agrees with.”
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
If Folau has actually stated a homophobic slur then you'd find reason why it wasn't Or at least that seems to be the trend so far from plenty of his supporters.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
To be honest I just couldn’t be bothered. So yes, it was just easy to type any random stuff to get you all frothy.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
“Pray, v. To ask that the laws of the universe be annulled in behalf of a single petitioner, confessedly unworthy.” ― Ambrose Bierce
SandBox
Roar Guru
Anyone who died before Jesus was screwed then. Some god
piru
Roar Rookie
Yes, agreed. Thank you again for engaging reasonably and thoughtfully Ralph
Kiwikrs
Roar Rookie
Appreciate the time, effort and measured response Ralph. You've been a true gentleman throughout this debate. However, it seems we're destined to forever be on opposite side of religion as I just can't reconcile an all powerful God standing by regardless of free will or selfless love
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Demur. Cheers KP
SandBox
Roar Guru
Yeah ok. In that situation, if you have time to pray, then you have time to avoid the truck. Sure there may be truly selfless acts of prayer, but the majority of the time it’s to get something better out of life. Either way, the evidence suggests it does nothing, which returns us to it only being useful as a form of meditation
piru
Roar Rookie
Assumptions leads to conclusions, which we can call a ‘world view’, so I don’t really agree the idea atheists don’t believe anything or we can’t see the conclusions of their assumptions. I'm sorry but I have no idea what this is supposed to mean, it seems I've not been clear enough. Atheism is not a religion, it's a lack of belief in god, you can't extrapolate anything further than that without making things up. God is not constrained by the limited thinking of either time or death. How lovely for him, but I'm sure that's cold comfort to the victims of atrocities he could stop with a thought In your world view explain the concept of innocent. Innocent from what or whom? I'll stick with the dictionary definition And do you believe man is capable of selfless love? If you don’t your question is, (at best) irrelevant. It doesn't matter what I believe - you were explaining how you reconcile god allowing atrocities. For the record, yes I do believe that, please answer the original question.
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Surely that depends on what you pray for. "Yegads, please let that oncoming freight truck on wrong side of road kill me." Only selfish, if kids in back seat, and did not pray "...kill my kids/us."
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Why would anyone in Australia be fussed if Folau had tweeted a quote written in Deutsche? Forgot, trolls would be out to translate, to identify any possible offence, and warn their local under 7s rugby team, about big bad israel folau...frightening any bejesus out of them in process...
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Concur.... faints in disbelief... Recovered from shock... can add: Question is, if penalty appropriate. Not sure a High Court decision on current law, will end debate. :-(
SandBox
Roar Guru
I’d go a step further and say prayer is ultimately an act of selfishness. Asking God to intervene for the person praying, or the loved one being prayed for, at the expense of the many suffering, starving or dehydrating to their deaths
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Ps ignore "SB" a typo or no idea what i meant myself!
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
SB Sandy, i reckon a poor eg; not like prayer to win lotto, but hardly 'accepting will of God'. Compare to Samu praying b4 game that he makes no errors, and if he does, that he not be thrown by it. Cannot help IMO call it self hypnosis, or placebo, but it's mostly upside PROVIDED it does not amount to a self righteous plea akin to denial of self-responsibilty - which without doubt it is or can be ... Cheers KP
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Well if you are going to interpret a pre AD written book from a zillion different historians as a likely factual ac ount of BC events, more fool you. ;-)
SandBox
Roar Guru
Pete, Harvard University did a large study on prayer, and found it does nothing. This research was done by religious people hoping to find evidence for their faith.....but hey if it makes someone feel better, then it’s possibly usefully as you said - a form of meditation https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2006/03/prayers-dont-help-heart-surgery-patients/
SandBox
Roar Guru
Would add, Abraham being commanded to kill his son Isaac. Then commanded not to. Don’t see much free will in that story. Free will is an illusion, and this goes against everything explaining the Evil in the World via Christian theology. Even if free will were true, which it isn’t, it wouldn’t explain God standing by and doing nothing throughout the worst kind of diseases and plagues in history. What free will do germs, viruses, and diseases have? After ignoring enormous human suffering for Millenia, God sees Folau make a break, then he decides to intervene and help him score a try. Some god
Ralph
Roar Guru
Assumptions leads to conclusions, which we can call a 'world view', so I don't really agree the idea atheists don't believe anything or we can't see the conclusions of their assumptions. Love can't exist without free will. In biblical terms, love is the 'prime directive'. God is not constrained by the limited thinking of either time or death. In your world view explain the concept of innocent. Innocent from what or whom? And do you believe man is capable of selfless love? If you don't your question is, (at best) irrelevant.
SandBox
Roar Guru
“Use the word ‘choice’ if the concept of free will is too messy for you.” Interchangeable. I understand free will quite well thanks. Suggested reading “Free Will” by Dr Sam Harris. If you don’t have time to read this book, then here’s a Hipster who appropriately looks a little like Jesus, explaining it in the link https://youtu.be/j4Oyi1T-HmU