Gosford Anglican Church erects sign condemning Israel Folau for his homophobic comments

A NEW South Wales Church has erected a sign outside its parish condemning Israel Folau for his homophobic comments and the church’s outspoken priest says the rugby star is “ill-informed” with his interpretation of the Bible.

Israel Folau at training. Picture: Toby Zerna

THE Waratahs squad will discuss Israel Folau’s anti-gay comments to ensure there is no division in the ranks.

Coach Daryl Gibson confirmed his players will meet to discuss the issue that has engulfed Australian rugby in the past week.

While Folau has some backers in the Waratahs team who are also devout Christians, others are alarmed by his statement that gays are destined for hell unless they repent.

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There are no signs of a split over the issue, with the group understanding of the right to free speech, but the Tahs want to ensure that hostilities do not develop with Folau unable to guarantee to Rugby Australia that he won’t post more inflammatory comments.

The sign outside Gosford Anglican Church.

“In a team you’re going to have a range of different beliefs on a number of different issues,’ Gibson said.

“What we do agree on is the respect to hold a particular belief or view, and that freedom of expression. What we have to be mindful of is when we comment in public, how that’s maybe perceived or the ramifications of any comment.”

Gibson said Folau did not mean to cause offence by his comment, having met with RA boss Raelene Castle and Waratahs chief executive Andrew Hore on Tuesday.

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“From what I understand the meeting went really well, Raelene and Andrew sent Israel back to really reflect on those discussions,” Gibson said.

“While we do educate players every year around that usage, it’s a real opportunity for us to step that up and use this situation as a teaching tool.

“We’re a respectful, inclusive organisation, and I don’t think Israel meant to cause offence to anyone in the public.”

Israel Folau at training. Picture: Toby Zerna

The saga took an unexpected turn on Wednesday when a NSW church has erected a giant sign outside its parish condemning Folau’s anti-gay comments.

The Gosford Anglican Church put up the sign that reads: “Israel Folau has a right to be wrong”, and the church’s outspoken priest Father Rod Bower said the rugby star was “ill-informed” about his interpretation of the Bible by stating that gays were destined for hell.

“He is contributing to mental violence towards LGBT people, but I don’t believe that’s his intention,” Fr Bower told the Daily Telegraph.

“It certainly is not hate speech, there is a fine line and I don’t think he’s crossed it, but his views are ill-informed, unwise and dangerous.

“The problem is what we understand as homosexuality is unknown to Biblical writers, we translate words in Hebrew or Latin that are misconstrued because homosexuality is unknown.

Qantas has threatened to pull its sponsorship after Folau’s comments.

“It is intellectually unfortunate to superimpose those first century understandings of human behaviour to what we see and understand today.

“Biblical writers saw homosexuality as a departure from the norm and they criticised it, which is understandable. But they are commenting on human activities that they understood to be something different to what we understand it to be.

“The majority of Christians in Australia voted in favour of same-sex marriage, so Mr Folau is certainly in the minority and I think that’s an important point to make.”