AFTER blaming bushfires on abortion and gay marriage last month, former Wallaby Israel Folau, 30, now wants ‘all Australians to know that he does not condone discrimination of any kind against any person on the grounds of their sexuality.’
Well, isn’t that nice.
Those words came in a statement today from Rugby Australia after it reached a settlement with Folau, who was demanding $A14-million in compensation for wrongful termination. Folau was sacked after he said on Instagram earlier this year “hell awaits” gay people.
Folau and RA released a joint statement saying they had reached an agreement, settling for a confidential amount.
Folau later released a video on his website thanking his supporters. Standing alongside his wife Maria, he said:
We are extremely pleased with the settlement reached today. With today’s acknowledgment and apology by Rugby Australia, we have been vindicated and can now move on with our lives to focus on our faith and our family. Maria and I would like to thank God for his guidance and strength.
We started this journey on behalf of all people of faith, to protect their rights of freedom of speech and religion.
We now look forward to the Federal Government enacting the legislation necessary to further protect and strengthen these rights for all Australians.
RA said:
Mr Folau wants all Australians to know that he does not condone discrimination of any kind against any person on the grounds of their sexuality and that he shares Rugby Australia’s commitment to inclusiveness and diversity.
Rugby Australia and NSW Rugby do not in any way agree with the content of the social media post. Inclusiveness is one of rugby’s core values and it welcomes all people to the game, including all members of the LGBTI community.
While it was not Rugby Australia’s intention, Rugby Australia acknowledges and apologises for any hurt or harm caused to the Folaus. Similarly, Mr Folau did not intend to hurt or harm the game of rugby and acknowledges and apologises for any hurt or harm caused
In line with utterances repeatedly made by Christian bigots whenever they find themselves neck-deep in shit, Folau said his views come from “a place of love.”
Sharing the word of God is so important to me because it’s the great commission, it’s what God has called each Christian to do. It would be unloving for me just to keep it to myself and keep it within the four walls of my church and within my family.
Because God wants the Gospel out there and wants people to hopefully come to the knowledge of the truth and have the peace and love that comes from him, it’s our duty as a Christian to be able to go out there and share that.
So that’s why I’m so vocal about it at church, in the general public and on social media because I care about the state of people’s souls, and the love that I have for mankind is what is driving me.
News.com.au ran a poll back in June on Folau’s fight against his rugby bosses. Fifty-three percent of more than 150,000 polled said it was right for RA to sack him.