Sacked Wallabies and Waratahs player Israel Folau’s latest sermon has gone viral, with the former code-hopper linking the current drought and bushfire crisis to Australia’s decision to legalise same-sex marriage and abortion.
Speaking at a church in Sydney, Folau warned during a ten-minute recording that the events which have left hundreds homeless and towns on the brink of running out of water in the next couple of months unless a major rain event occurs are a “taste of god’s judgement.”
The bushfire crisis in northern New South Wales, which has been called the worst the state has ever faced, has left six people dead, and Folau, in his sermon, said that, compared to what was coming if Australia didn’t repent, this “isn’t even a big thing.”
“I’ve been looking around at the events that’s been happening in Australia, this past couple of weeks, with all the natural disasters, the bushfires and the droughts,” he told the church.
“The events that have happened here in Australia, in the last couple of years – God’s word says for a man and a woman to be together … they’ve come and changed this law.
“Abortion, it’s OK now to murder, kill infants, unborn children. In the eyes of God it’s evil, in society today it’s good”.
“Look how rapid these bushfires these droughts, all these things have come in a short period of time. Do you think it’s a coincidence or not?
“God is speaking to you guys. Australia you need to repent and take these laws and turn it back to what is right.”
Folau’s speech went viral almost as soon as the video was posted on the church’s Facebook page, with the reaction one of anger and disbelief from the general public.
Both opposition leader Anthony Albanese and Nationals backbencher Barnaby Joyce have been among those to slam Folau for his comments, with Albanese labelling Folau “reprehensible.”
The former Wallabies star is currently suing Rugby Australia on the grounds of unfair dismissal after a judicial hearing found him guilty of a breach of contract earlier this year for an Instagram post claiming those in same-sex relationships, among others like drunks, thieves and atheists would go to hell.
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
Just don't fill a van with gas bottles and try to blow up the ACL office. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-25/accused-christian-lobby-arsonist-dies/8980882
mushi
Roar Guru
You keep saying slanderous I'd happily sit before a judge and justify my position that Folau has demonstrated qualities that suggest he fits the modern vernacular of clown or simpleton. I have great empathy for Tom
mushi
Roar Guru
Hold on Ethan a second a go it was unintentional, now it is deliberate?
mushi
Roar Guru
How is there no intent Ethan.
mushi
Roar Guru
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. I neither understand nor share. The word you're after is probably compassion and I'm sorry my compassion is spent on those he denigrates. And I see that even you in your pious empathetic position had to resort to facetiousness to close. And thus undo any of your own false mortality and prove my point. I openly hope he's ridiculed. The only positive contribution he will make in my mind is as a lightning rod for those affected. To give his opinions merit then devalues the lives of so many people. He's deliberately taken a divisive position, you can pretend that it is possible to stand on the fence if that makes you feel better. Ethan you are by your own admission one who openly understands and shares the view we should heckle the dead for engaging in democracy. And you have the temerity to lecture others for a lack of empathy.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
It’s amazing how many show hate towards Izzy, whilst at the same time criticizing the hate they think he showed others. I think you're making a fundamental error here Ethan. I don't know Israel Folau, and I'd guess no one else on here does either, but I'd guess the majority share my view; we don't hate the man, we hate his beliefs. That's actually a massive difference. In terms of harm, these particular expressed beliefs of Folau, are clearly a slap in the face of real people, in real physical and mental suffering. To then claim, as he did, that they are made out of love for all of us is, frankly, reprehensible and stupefying. Those who hate Folau's beliefs, and express that hate, are a slap in the face to an absent and fictional deity. I'll take the side of real people, my brothers and sisters, every day of the week thanks.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
“It does reinforce, any sports’ lack of wisdom, in promoting an individual player, as its marketing hero.” ✔️
Tom G
Roar Rookie
You need an echo chamber not a forum
ethan
Guest
I don't listen to Alan Jones. His opinions are not mine. Also don't conflate support for freedom of speech with support for his beliefs. Clearly two different things. I agree a bigger problem than Folau is those who provide the soapbox. That is not me. That is the powerful people who run religious organisations, and the billionaires. The same soapboxes are provided for politicians, corporations, the media, etc... Many of them have negative messages too. I too would like the soap box taken away from a lot of them, but it hasn't happened in a thousand years. Power comes from the top down, not the bottom up. If we the crowd throw stones it makes no difference. The media have the power to air his thoughts or not, and they choose to. All the people throwing stones at Folau hasn't stopped that. In fact if anything, its only encouraged it, because they get more clicks. So if you really want his soapbox to be taken away, take it up with the media, not me. Refuse to read their articles. Send them emails or letters to make your point. Are you doing that?
yabba88
Roar Rookie
That people still exist who believe in sky fairies is surely an amazing thing. The world is going down the tubes, and some want to base their lives on the myths and legends of a bunch of middle eastern goat herders! Word of god, my arse. The holey babble is a cobbled together mish-mash of entirely unsourced hogwash, of unknown authorship. All of it. None of the so-called gospels was written by the 'according to' supposed authors. No historian with any credibility says so, and none of the 'original' manuscripts is signed. The perpetuation of the lie about their authorship in every copy of the babble gives a pretty strong indication of the fraud at its centre.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Why is it now clearer? It was clear before. It’s the encouragement he got from his first two rounds that’s lead him to carry on. Now he’s largely been vilified, let’s see how quickly he jumps on that box again huh?
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yet on and on he continues. And why is that ? Because he’s being encouraged to say ‘what he wants’. You yourself are saying he’s ‘misguided’. Yet his ‘guidance’, one that you, Alan Jones, and thousands of donators and commentators contribute to, encourage him to be misguided. It’s that support that is feeding his Naivety. Freedom of speech is one thing, but continuing to provide the soap box for him to stand on is another, particularly when the message is clearly a negative one. Alan Jones by now saying ‘button up’ as opposed to earlier supporting IF, has now realised this, and has changed his earlier tune.
Laurence King
Roar Rookie
I think people's views are getting more extreme, and like a buckled wheel are getting a little out of control.
TJP
Roar Rookie
Mate they are the only ones who will profit from this carry on Castle may not "profit" but it surely must have made her day!
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
No, none, zilch.
Ethan
Guest
So if 95% of people are nice to each other we get somehow get more depths? I surely do not follow... He is trying to get others to think like him. So are many religious leaders. So are many politicians. So are many in the media. So are many corporations. So are many chatting in bats and pubs. This is normal human behaviour. Disagree with him if you like, but the very act of speaking your opinion is no sin. It's extremely common. Israel I believe is misguided, not intentionally trying to harm people. He would see his beliefs as a helpful warning to others, to turn from their "sin".
Nick
Roar Guru
???
Nobody
Roar Rookie
Did you have an epiphany Pete? Play it on repeat to the sound of one hand clapping
enoughisenough
Roar Rookie
So support of actual fact based science against an emotional fraud is "flat earthier (sic) logic"? You demonstrate little capacity for rational thought. You were one of the first to hysterically scream "think of the children!!!" over Folau's comments, yet you seem to be totally blasé about an entire generation being whipped into a frenzy and erroneously believing that man made climate change is "a grave threat to their lives". How many emotional issues and youth suicides has this lead to world wide? And how much time, effort and money has this fraud taken away from useful environmental programs that may have a real and positive impact on the earth? Indeed we should have programs that address, for example, reafforestation, and which attempt to save animals and fish stocks from extinction. But these programs can't happen if the root cause of the issue (and here's a hint for you, its NOT man made climate change) is misidentified and incorrectly addressed. For starters, you are not going to address destruction of the rain forest by futilely lashing out at plant food (CO2).....
SandBox
Roar Guru
Linking bushfires to gays, abortion or anything else is something that could incite a mob. Saying repent or go to an imaginary place, seems less likely to cause a mob lynching or witch hunt. These days anyway, in the past all sorts of corporal punishment were delivered in brutal deaths from less