Family First National Director and NSW Legislative Council candidate Lyle Shelton has called on the Australian Rugby League Commission and the NRL to end the blacklisting of Israel Folau and allow him to play for the Wests Tigers if the club wishes to sign him.
The call follows reports that Israel Folau and his wife Maria are considering legal action after the ARL Commission allegedly intervened to prevent a proposed return to the NRL. Reports have also raised questions about the role of ARL Commissioner Wayne Pearce in opposing Folau’s return.
Mr Shelton said the treatment of Folau exposed a glaring double standard within the game’s leadership.
“Israel Folau has not committed a crime. He has not assaulted anyone. He has not abused women. He has not engaged in misconduct on the field or off it,” Mr Shelton said.
“His ‘offence’ was posting a Bible verse expressing orthodox Christian teaching about repentance and salvation.
“Yet the NRL has repeatedly welcomed back players involved in serious off-field scandals, including incidents involving violence against women and other deeply troubling conduct.
“The message from the game’s administrators appears to be that you can make serious mistakes, hurt people, coerce your girlfriend to abort her baby and still be welcomed back into rugby league, but if you publicly express traditional Christian beliefs you become untouchable.”
Mr Shelton said such an approach was fundamentally unjust.
“If the reports are correct, Wayne Pearce and the ARL Commission are operating a two-tier system of inclusiveness.”
“One set of rules applies to people whose behaviour breaches community standards, and another applies to Bible-believing Christians.”
“That is not inclusiveness. It is ideological discrimination.”
Mr Shelton said the implications extended well beyond rugby league.
“Israel Folau’s case is about much more than football.”
“If one of Australia’s greatest sporting talents can effectively be excluded from earning a living because he expressed a sincerely held Christian belief, then no Bible-believing Christian is safe.”
“Every Christian school teacher, every business owner, every public servant and every employee should pay attention to what is happening to Israel Folau.”
“If they can do this to Izzy, they can do it to any of us.”
Mr Shelton said Family First was standing with Folau because freedom of religion and freedom of expression were fundamental Australian values.
“Family First is standing up for Israel Folau because if his rights can be restrained for quoting Scripture, the rights of every Australian who holds traditional Christian beliefs are at risk.
“No Australian should face professional exclusion because they believe and express what Christians have believed for 2,000 years.
“The ARL Commission should stop the discrimination, end the double standards and let Israel Folau play.”
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