Israel Folau pays price for provocative post as Rugby Australia terminates contract

Israel Folau has lost his career not because he was lovingly trying to spread God’s message, but because he failed to respect those who he had previously harmed with similar words, says JAMIE PANDARAM.

Israel Folau speaks at The Truth of Jesus Christ Church in Kenthurst.

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Advocate free speech, advocate religious expression, but where did respect get lost in the debate?

Israel Folau has lost his career not because he was lovingly trying to spread God’s message, but because he failed to respect those who he had previously harmed with similar words.

It was provocation, and it couldn’t be allowed to stand.

I know of atheist rugby players who say Christian beliefs are hocus-pocus, and that few answers found in the Bible actually translate to modern society in a constructive way.

Israel Folau speaks at The Truth of Jesus Christ Church in Kenthurst.

This is free speech, they have the right to hold those beliefs.

What they don’t do is spread those beliefs on social media, because they know the offence and hurt it will cause to their Christian teammates, and the wider community.

If such a player posted on Instagram that religious types had wasted their entire lives reading a book that wasn’t real because God is imaginary, they would be sacked — and rightly so.

Free speech does not excuse you from the consequences of that speech.

But more aptly, society can only move forward if we place respect and care for others before what we hold true to ourselves.

Much commentary has been focused on Folau being disrespected and persecuted for his beliefs, but have a look at his Instagram page: nearly every post over the past two years has been Christian-based and Rugby Australia didn’t bat an eyelid.

Israel Folau has had his contract with Rugby Australia terminated.

When he takes aim at homosexuals as sinners — indicating that being gay is a choice to be repented from – it’s a problem, just as it would be if you isolated people based on their colour or race.

Having regularly dealt with Folau for more than six years, I can attest that he is not vindictive or demeaning. He would genuinely feel like he is helping people by posting the material he has.

But this case shows that you can hurt people even if it is not your intention.

And in life, we can choose two paths: be so defiant in your belief that you continue to spread messages knowing it will cause pain to others, or hold your tongue — or thumbs — prioritising empathy above conviction.

The freedom Folau now seeks to be himself is the same freedom minorities throughout history have fought oppressive regimes for.

The starting point is respect, not belief.