Israel Folau controversy
Jun 28, 2019 11:50:35 GMT 10
Post by SharksFan99 on Jun 28, 2019 11:50:35 GMT 10
This has been a hot debate in Australia and (presumably) New Zealand over the past couple of months. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the recently-sacked Australian Rugby Union star, Israel Folau, and his views on religion and sexuality.
On the 10th April, Folau posted this on his Instagram feed:
Rugby Australia deemed it as homophobic and the governing body announced their intention to terminate Israel Folau's contract the following day. Weeks later, he was found guilty of breaching Rugby Australia's code of conduct and on the 17th May, his four-year contract with the governing body was officially terminated, ending his career with the Wallabies and the Warratahs.
However, Israel Folau has launched legal proceedings with the FairWork Commission against the governing body on the basis that he was terminated employment as a result of his religion, which is illegal under section 772 of the Fair Work Act. He believes that he should be free to express his religious beliefs without fears of retribution. Since the controversial post was made, Folau has not backed down from his beliefs. He recently gave a sermon in which he said homosexuality "is a sin and that the devil is behind children being allowed to change gender".
The events surrounding the termination of Israel Folau's contract has divided the public. Some members of the community believe that Folau has archaic, social views which are discriminatory and have no place in our society, while others hold the view that we should be protecting our religious freedom and he should be free to express his beliefs.
What are your thoughts on this? Is it morally right that Israel Folau was sacked based on his controversial, religious beliefs?
On the 10th April, Folau posted this on his Instagram feed:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwEWt2uHcLI
Rugby Australia deemed it as homophobic and the governing body announced their intention to terminate Israel Folau's contract the following day. Weeks later, he was found guilty of breaching Rugby Australia's code of conduct and on the 17th May, his four-year contract with the governing body was officially terminated, ending his career with the Wallabies and the Warratahs.
However, Israel Folau has launched legal proceedings with the FairWork Commission against the governing body on the basis that he was terminated employment as a result of his religion, which is illegal under section 772 of the Fair Work Act. He believes that he should be free to express his religious beliefs without fears of retribution. Since the controversial post was made, Folau has not backed down from his beliefs. He recently gave a sermon in which he said homosexuality "is a sin and that the devil is behind children being allowed to change gender".
The events surrounding the termination of Israel Folau's contract has divided the public. Some members of the community believe that Folau has archaic, social views which are discriminatory and have no place in our society, while others hold the view that we should be protecting our religious freedom and he should be free to express his beliefs.
What are your thoughts on this? Is it morally right that Israel Folau was sacked based on his controversial, religious beliefs?