Religious leaders condemn Daniel Andrews for comments surrounding Andrew Thorburn saga

Religious leaders have condemned Dan Andrews for his intervention in the Andrew Thorburn saga, but the Premier will likely dodge any fallout.

Premier Daniel Andrews has faced further criticism for his intervention in the Andrew Thorburn saga, with a prominent Baptist minister accusing him of an unwise “rush to judgment” against the former Essendon CEO.

However, political experts don’t believe the Premier will suffer an electoral backlash for his comments on Mr Thorburn’s controversial City on a Hill church.

As debate over the issue escalated on Thursday, Opposition Leader Matthew Guy dubbed Mr Andrews the state’s most divisive leader ever for “bagging” people.

“The role of Premier is about uniting our state, bringing us all together – whether you’re in the gay community, the Christian community, of Islamic faith, or no faith,” he said.

But Mr Andrews did not back away from using words such as “intolerant” and “bigotry” to describe some religious views, and dismissed an attack by Catholic Archbishop Peter Comensoli, saying he wouldn’t “debate with faith leaders”.

Daniel Andrews labelled the views of new Essendon chief executive Andrew Thorburn’s church as ‘absolutely appalling’. Picture: David Crosling

“If I can just say, with utmost respect, calling out homophobia is not the problem. Homophobia is the problem. I’ve always spoken out against it. I always will,” he said.

Baptist minister and senior adviser for the Centre for Public Christianity, Rev Tim Costello, said the Premier’s initial intervention on Wednesday was unwise.

“To go in hard, only on one side, ignores the complexity,” he told the Herald Sun.

“It was a rush to judgment, and Essendon should have said ‘we’re going to take a week to consider this rather than just respond to the social media pile-on, because it is very complex’.

“When Essendon say ‘we want to be the most inclusive club’, it’s now very difficult for them to have on their boards Muslims, Sikhs, religious Jews, and Catholics who are very committed to their church.

“In a multicultural society the faiths behind those cultures actually also have rights to be heard and respected.”

Islamic Council of Victoria vice-president Adel Salman said religious believers felt under siege by the passing of certain laws, and the “public shaming of any view that runs contrary to the prevailing agenda on sexuality and gender identity”.

Islamic Council of Victoria vice-president Adel Salman said religious believers felt under siege. Picture: Mark Wilson

“This is such a complex issue, and my advice not just to the Premier, but to all politicians, is that they need to be really mindful of the impact of their statements on something as complex as this,” he said.

Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann, from the Jewish community’s Ark Centre, said everyone should be treated fairly, respectfully and equally “regardless of their religion, sexuality or race”.

“As an AFL multicultural ambassador, I want to see everyone, including people of all faiths, enjoying our great game,” he said.

Churchgoers in Moonee Valley – the council area with the highest percentage of Victoria’s Catholics (38.1 per cent) – criticised Mr Andrews, saying the issue was not for him to discuss publicly.

“I’ve spoken to a few Catholic people and they all said Dan Andrews should keep his nose out of it,” one man said.

Other members of the Catholic community said the resignation of Mr Thorburn was “totally wrong”.

“If that’s where we’re at in today’s society … all we can do is pray,” one said.

Despite the furore surrounding Mr Andrews’s comments, political commentators expect they’ll do little to sway votes at November’s election.

“Any person who walks into a voting booth in November and votes on this issue, either in support of the Premier’s views or against, is already rusted on,” Redbridge director Kos Samaras said.

Baptist minister and senior adviser for the Centre for Public Christianity, Rev Tim Costello, said the Premier’s initial intervention.

Redbridge senior consultant Tony Barry said talking about Mr Thorburn was a good way for Labor to change the political conversation.

“This is Labor’s go-to strategy. They’ll throw some red meat out for the Liberal Party confident in the knowledge they’ll always take the bait,” he said.

Mr Barry agreed it would have little sway on the election outcome. “There were a number of issues relevant to the faith community at the last election but there’s no evidence that it energised their base against Daniel Andrews.”

Australian Christian Lobby national director Wendy Francis said the contrast between Mr Andrews and Mr Guy couldn’t be more stark.

“Every Victorian of faith should consider the comments from Premier Daniel Andrews very carefully before they vote in November,” she said.

“In fact, every Victorian who believes in freedom of speech and thought should be concerned.”