Talk isn’t cheap
SEX, religion, sport and Ablett.
Find me a journalist or opinion writer who doesn’t salivate at the thought of a story combining these four elements — elements guaranteed to whet the appetite of any warm-blooded reader.
Sorry to disappoint, but while this opinion piece does involve all four facets it is much more nuanced than you would think.
Israel Folau (pictured), a great rugby league, union and erstwhile AFL ‘marquee’ player for GWS is in hot water.
Folau posted on his Instagram feed the other day that eternal damnation awaits “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolaters”.
“Hell awaits you,” Folau added. “Repent! Only Jesus saves.”
And then Gary Ablett Jr hit the ‘Like’ button. Oh dear, not the thing to do — and rapidly taken down by Gary.
So what’s the problem? Very simply, what we are talking about here is the right to free speech versus belonging to an organisation that has different values.
Last week Folau posted those comments on his Instagram account. As would be the case in these days of ultra-sensitivity, the inclusion of homosexuals is the main bone of contention. (Apparently no one is concerned about the alleged fate of the drunks, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters.)
Facing sanctions from Rugby Australia, Folau two days ago said “he would be prepared to give up rugby if that was God’s wish for him”.
“It’s obviously a decision that’s in the process right now but I believe in a God that’s in control of all things,” he said, having attended a Sunday service at his local church.
“Whatever his will is, whether that’s to continue playing or not, I’m more than happy to do what he wants me to do.
“First and foremost, I live for God now. His plans for me are better than whatever I can think.”
Well said, and I’m prepared to back him up to the hilt to defend his religion-based and biased stance. To this old lefty, freedom of speech is paramount.
But freedom of speech also entails consequences.
In Folau’s case, this means that he should be required to step down from his elevated position in the rugby community.
Unfortunately, he is employed by Rugby Australia. Let me take you back to 2014.
At that time, RA CEO Bill Pulver reaffirmed rugby’s resolve to eliminate discrimination when he joined the leaders of other codes in the April to sign a collective commitment to stamp out homophobia in each of their respective sports.
“We’ve worked with a number of stakeholders to develop our Inclusion Policy — most particularly, the organisers of the 2014 Bingham Cup, who were instrumental in putting a framework together earlier this year,” he said. “We want Australian rugby to be an environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity, reflecting our desire to create a truly diverse and inclusive Australian rugby community. There is absolutely no place for homophobia or any form of discrimination in our game and our actions and words, both on and off the field, must reflect this.”
For the uninitiated, the Bingham Cup is a non-professional, gay rugby tournament.
In 2014 Israel Folau appeared on the front cover of the Star Observer — Australia’s longest-running publication for the LBGT communities — to support the gay tournament. He was said to be a “strong advocate for ending all forms of the discrimination in sport”. How things change.
Remember, just two days ago Folau publicly said that he would be prepared to give up rugby if that was God’s wish for him.
“Whatever his will is, whether that’s to continue playing or not, I’m more than happy to do what he wants me to do.”
Pathetic, as of course he is now going to appeal the decision to ban him from rugby forever. Yet another who wants his cake and wants to eat it. He’s apparently prepared to stand down for his principles but he doesn’t want to lose the money either.
Sorry, Israel, but we — the sporting community — don’t want you any more. We are inclusive yet we understand your religious beliefs. However, don’t use the platform we have given you to upset our intrinsic beliefs in inclusiveness.
If it wasn’t for the game, your antediluvian comments would just get lost in the miasma of vacuous social media comment, where it rightly belongs.