Former Wallaby Israel Folau has launched a campaign to raise funds for his legal costs in the fight against Rugby Australia.
The rugby star is gearing up for a legal battle with the peak sporting body through the Fair Work Commission after his multi-million dollar contract was terminated following a social media post claimed homosexuals would go to hell without repentance.
The Gofundme account, which has raised over $140,000 of the $3mil target upon publishing this article, explains that Folau believes his termination was unlawful.
“I believe that sharing the Bible is an act of love and compassion,” Folau tells supporters.
“I know some people do not like or believe in the Bible. Indeed, what makes our country so wonderful is that we have such a diverse community made up of so many different cultures and values. But my faith defines me as a person. I do not believe that it is fair or right that I be punished for my religious beliefs.”
“Sadly, after I uploaded the messages from the Bible, my employers, Rugby Australia and Rugby NSW, tore up my employment contract,” Folau continued.
“As a result, I have lost my job, my livelihood, and the ability to play for my country. It looks like I will never be allowed to play rugby in this country again.”
“My wife Maria and I have already spent over $100,000 of our own money, and that was just to try and deal with Rugby Australia’s internal tribunal processes,” the page reads.
“There is every chance that a prominent test case like this could take years and eventually end up in the High Court of Australia.”
A statement from Folau’s lawyers, George Haros and Stuart Wood AM QC, said the former player was seeking “substantial remedies from his former employers should they be found to have breached the Fair Work Act in terminating his employment.”
Folau made headlines again earlier this week, after a sermon he delivered at his Kenthurst church was posted to Facebook.
In the sermon, Folau speaks out against the LGBTIQ+ community, and blames the devil for the existence of transgender children.
“This is what the devil is trying to do, to instill into the government, into this world, into society, and it is slowly happening,” Folau said.
“The sad thing is why a lot of people out there that are non-Christians say bad things about the church, is because a lot of the churches allow those things to happen.”
OIP Staff
