Matthew Guy labels Essendon CEO Andrew Thorburn’s resignation ‘ridiculous’

Melbourne's Archbishop has slammed the “outrageous” treatment of Andrew Thorburn after the Premier fired back at criticism for his comments over the saga.

Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne and Essendon supporter Peter Comensoli has hit out at the “outrageous” and “awful treatment” of Andrew Thorburn.

“If the Essendon situation is a litmus test of the value and place of people of faith in Victorian society, then we are in big trouble,” he said on Wednesday.

“I became a supporter of the Bombers on my first day ‘in the job’ here. But frankly, if Essendon can’t be inclusive and fair to supporters who hold a religious faith, maybe it’s time to find a new club.”

It comes as Premier Daniel Andrews hit back at criticism from the opposition that he shouldn’t have publicly commented on Andrew Thorburn’s role at the Essendon Football Club.

On Wednesday Opposition Leader Matthew Guy branded the Thorburn’s resignation from Essendon “ridiculous”, saying the Premier should not have taken a public stance on the matter.

Mr Guy told 3AW: “Football clubs can hire who they choose – I don’t see, if I was the premier, why I would be telling people who they can hire and fire”.

“What are we now banning people from going to church, banning people from going to a synagogue, banning people from going to a mosque? This is ridiculous.”

Essendon is now searching for its third chief executive in 40 days after the bombshell resignation just one day after he Thorburn was appointed.

Revelations in the Herald Sun that Thorburn was also chairman of a church organisation with controversial views on abortion and homosexuality made his position untenable.

On another dramatic day for Bombers, Thorburn was faced with the dilemma of choosing between his faith and football.

The 57-year-old, who has attended City on a Hill church since 2014 and joined the board two years ago, decided his Christianity was more important than the club he grew up supporting.

Andrew Thorburn has resigned as chief executive of Essendon. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

But Mr Andrews hit out at Mr Guy’s criticism on Wednesday, saying: “Who the CEO of Essendon Football Club is a matter for the board of the Essendon Football Club. I was asked a question and I answered it”.

“People can get all upset about the fact that someone resigned. I’m much more focused on the fact that people are harming themselves and, sometimes, taking their own lives because of bigotry and prejudice.”

The Premier said people taking up leadership positions “might want to have a think about whether they should be…a bit more inclusive”.

“Let’s not lose perspective about this. This is not about who runs a footy club. This is about issues that are much much bigger than that and you will always see me speak out against that kind of thinking,” Mr Andrews said.

“This decision has been made. I had no involvement in appointing him and I had no involvement in him resigning. They’re his choices and choices for the board.

“But my position on these issues is crystal clear and it always will be and that’s what you should get out of leaders — crystal clear positions when it comes to these really serious issues.”

Matthew Guy says football clubs should be able to choose who they hire. Picture: Nicki Connolly

On Tuesday, Mr Andrews labelled the views of the new Essendon chief executive’s church as “absolutely appalling” as the new Bombers boss defended his faith.

Andrews, an Essendon supporter, said the decision to appoint a chief executive ultimately rested with the club’s board and he would continue to be a club member.

But he also said there were “many reasons to be a somewhat disappointed Essendon supporter” in the wake of Thorburn’s appointment after revelations his City on the Hill church, of which he’s chairman, has expressed strong views on abortion and homosexuality.

“Those views are absolutely appalling. I don’t support those views, that kind of intolerance, that kind of hatred, bigotry. It is just wrong,” Andrews said.

“To dress that up as anything other than bigotry is just obviously false.”

Archbishop of Melbourne slams treatment of Thorburn

Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne and Essendon supporter Peter Comensoli has hit out at the “outrageous” and “awful treatment” of Mr Thorburn.

“If the Essendon situation is a litmus test of the value and place of people of faith in Victorian society, then we are in big trouble,” he said.’

“I became a supporter of the Bombers on my first day ‘in the job’ here. But frankly, if Essendon can’t be inclusive and fair to supporters who hold a religious faith, maybe it’s time to find a new club.”

“It is outrageous that a person of good character has felt that he must choose between a public leadership role, and being an active member of a Christian community.”

“ Andrew Thorburn, a dedicated supporter of Essendon since childhood and a known man of faith, was appointed CEO after years of leadership in major Australian organisations that have been inclusive of all people.”

“Why is this now a problem for this football club? I commend Andrew for his charitable and Christian response to this awful treatment.”

“Sadly, this situation sends a chilling message to ordinary faith believers in Victoria, that they can’t be trusted to exercise leadership and service in the community.”

“This has been a polarising and divisive moment. It has not been about respecting diversity.”

Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne Philip Freier said he regretted that Mr Thorburn’s brief tenure with Essendon was the “source of so much angst for so many people”.

Archbishop Freier said that in 2016, the Archbishop of Canterbury and other international Anglican leaders agreed in a statement that rejected homophobia and affirmed that “God’s love for every human being is the same, regardless of their sexuality and that the church should never by its actions give any other impression”.

“I have seen nothing in Andrew Thorburn’s reported comments that contradict this position,” he said.

“It would be unfortunate if people of faith are sidelined from participation in professional and public life on account of personal religious belief.”

“Everyone should expect to be judged on their behaviour, not on their religious beliefs.

The Archbishop said that the clergy leader of the City on a Hill movement, Archdeacon Guy Mason, was a senior leader in the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne.

“I have always found him to be a person who puts God’s unconditional love for all as first in his life, and in his interaction with others,” he said.

Thorburn asks to be judged on leadership, not faith

In response to the revelations, Thorburn said it was “very important” his church’s strong views on abortion and homosexuality were allowed to be expressed in Australian society but called for the Bombers to judge him solely on his leadership and not his faith.

The 57-year-old former NAB chief executive defended the church on Tuesday, adamant “different views” should be respected in the community while also pointing out he didn’t share all of his church’s beliefs.

“I understand that some of these views – and I’ll come to them – are offensive to people and upset people and I really respect that,” Thorburn told SEN radio.

“Firstly, my faith is a very personal thing. I think my faith has helped me become a better leader because at the centre of my faith is the belief you should create a community and care for people and help people be safe and respect them as humans. That’s actually helped me become a better leader.

Premier Daniel Andrews labelled the views of Thorburn’s church ‘appalling’. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“Second is, I’ve been a CEO for 13 years, this is my third CEO job. I was CEO of a bank that had 5000 people, I was a CEO of a bank that had 35,000 people, now I’m going to a different organisation, but in all those, there’s a diversity of people.

“I haven’t been a perfect CEO, but I think my respect for people, my care, my love, my welcoming style, I welcome all those people, everybody is welcome. That’s really what I want people to look at, look at my actions, look at my words as a leader and the organisations I’ve created to enable safe, diverse, inclusive workplaces. That’s my record I want people to look at and have confidence in.”

Thorburn said he would welcome any gay footballer at Essendon who came to him to express their concerns over his position in his church.

“I would say (to a gay player) thank you and I respect and care about you and you’re welcome in this organisation, and I want to hear what you think and ensure that you feel safe and can speak out,” Thorburn said.

“So I want people to know that who I am and how I lead and how I engage, that’s what they should rely on.”

Originally published as Matthew Guy labels Essendon CEO Andrew Thorburn’s resignation ‘ridiculous’