The Famous Gosford Anglican Church Has Dragged Israel Folau Over His Latest Homophobic Tirade
More people should be like Rod Bower.
The Gosford Anglican Church in NSW has hit out at Israel Folau following the rugby star’s latest homophobic tirade.
Folau delivered a sermon at a church in Sydney on Sunday in which he described homosexuality as a sin and said the devil was responsible for young transgender children wanting to transition. It was the latest in a long line of homophobic statements by Folau, who was sacked by Rugby Australia last month for breaching their code of conduct after he refused to take down an Instagram post in which he said “hell awaits” gay people.
In response to Folau’s sermon, Gosford pastor Rod Bower arranged the letters on the famous sign outside his church into a message of support for the queer community.
“Folau is wrong,” the message read. “Don’t listen to him.”
Bower also tweeted a photo of the sign saying Folau was “the price we pay” for the right to free speech.
“He has the right to say it and I have the responsibility to oppose what he says,” the priest declared.
Bower and his church have a long history of supporting progressive causes, throwing their weight being the Yes campaign during the marriage equality debate, and fighting for the rights of asylum seekers.
#israelfolau is the price we pay for #freespeech He has the right to say it and I have the responsibility to oppose what he says. #LGBT pic.twitter.com/g5iGvSydVS
— Fr Rod Bower (@FrBower) June 17, 2019
Folau is currently suing Rugby Australia for breach of contract, and is seeking up to $10 million in damages.