Israel Folau is wrong, offensive but we don’t need to sack him

Israel Folau’s latest social media foray has sparked outrage. Picture: AAP

Let me start by saying I don’t share Israel Folau’s homophobic views. Fundamentally disagree with them in fact. And I sympathise with those who find them offensive.

I don’t believe gay men and women should, or will, burn in hell.

I don’t have a lot of time for adultery and I accept the problems associated with drunkenness — but I don’t see the need to suggest those guilty of either should be condemned to purgatory. Same applies to liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters.

But the suggestion that Folau should be fined, suspended or kicked out of the game for expressing these archaic views is a little bit of an overreaction.

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We live in a society that has moved on from the days when Folau’s view of the world predominated. One of the hallmarks of our considerably more progressive and accepting society is free speech. If Folau wants to spout this sort of rubbish, good luck to him.

Engage with him by all means. Expose him, explain the pain he is causing to young people struggling with their sexuality and make it clear that you don’t find what he is saying is acceptable.

He’s wrong, we’re better than that.

But to call for his sacking or suggest that sponsors should withdraw their support for the Wallabies or the Waratahs suggests a lack of confidence in our values.

Folau’s latest hand grenade — there have been a couple of them lobbed before — has gone off just as he and his supporters would have expected. The chorus of outrage plays into his hands.

Folau’s views are not commonly held in Australia. We have just voted favour of gay marriage and the vast majority of Australians happily accept gays and lesbians as valuable members of our community. We have little need to fear outlying, regressive views.

I suspect I disagree with several Wallabies on a range of different issues. I’m happy to debate those issues with any of them — and let them get on with playing rugby.