The Catholic Leader - 22 April

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The Catholic Leader, April 22, 2018
News
Israel Folau’s right to speak
freely about his Christian faith
Under attack: Israel Folau.
By Mark Bowling
ON Tuesday, April 10, Rugby Aus-
tralia did not sanction one of their
star players Israel Folau for his con-
troversial anti-gay comments made
on social media.
Rather, they told him to go away and “think
about that”. He has since said he was prepared
to walk away from rugby if his situation be-
came untenable due to his Christian beliefs.The three-time Australian Rugby Player of the
Year and devout Christian had been summoned
to Rugby Australia headquarters in Sydney to
explain his recent Instagram post, in which he said
gay people were destined for hell “unless they
repent of their sins and turn to God”.
Folau’s comment had outraged Australia’s
LGBTI community, divided opinion amongst
politicians and media pundits, and perhaps most
importantly for rugby officials, caused a backlash
with major game sponsors.
“He’s gone away to think about that … He’s
proud of who he is and what he stands for,”
Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle said after
the meeting with Folau, who she described as a
“strong role model”.
Ms Castle said Rugby Australia had taken no
immediate action against Folau, but described
their talks as just the start of a process, with no
commitment yet from Folau to tone down his
social media views.
“He wants to make sure we are not asking him
to compromise on his beliefs,” she said.
“But at the same time … we explained to him
that this is challenging for us, and any comment
he makes … how can he find a way that makes
sure he’s not disrespectful, but doesn’t compro-
mise his own personal beliefs.”
Sponsors, so important to the game, had made
it plain to RA that Folau’s comments were at odds
with their company policies of inclusiveness.
They included Qantas, Asics and Land Rover.
His comments appear to breach Rugby Aus-
tralia’s inclusion policy, designed to stamp out
discrimination and homophobia in the game.
But after his initial social media post, Folau
would not be silenced.
Raised as a Mormon, and later joining the As-
semblies of God, Folau posted a tweet a few days
later, citing the New Testament reading of Mat-
thew 5:11-13 which states “blessed are they which
are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men
revile you and persecute you and say all manner
of evil against you falsely, for my sake.”
“Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is
your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the
prophets which were before you.”
The words of the biblical extract, appear to
suggest he was being persecuted for his Christian
views. After he was summoned to rugby head-
quarters in Sydney to discuss social media policy,
Ms Castle stressed the importance of Folau, one
of the biggest names in Australian rugby, but
whose playing contract was up for negotiation.
“He is a great player, he has delivered some
great outcomes for us and has been a really strong
role model in the Pacific Islander community and
we would like to see he stays in rugby,” she said.
While Folau “thinks about that”, many com-
munity leaders have backed his right to express
his views.
Sydney Anglican Archbishop Glenn Davies
said the way Folau was treated would be a test of
Australian Rugby’s inclusion policy.
“Israel Folau should be free to hold and express
traditional, biblical views on marriage and sexual-
ity without being penalised, just as other players
have spoken out with their differing views,” he
said.
Former human rights commissioner, now
federal Liberal MP Tim Wilson suggested those
lashing out at Folau “take a chill pill”.
“Respecting diversity includes diversity of
opinion, including on questions of morality,” he
said.
Guardian sports columnist Paul Karp wrote:
“If Rugby Australia sponsors don’t like Folau’s
views they can pull their support, but the only
real solution is to talk people around so there is
less hate.
“However much I disagree with him, Israel
Folau should be allowed to express the opinion
that gay people are going to hell, without being
punished by Rugby Australia.”
BIBLE Society Australia has fast-tracked an appeal to provide
Bibles for China, following media reports that Bibles are being
removed from Chinese online bookshops.
After the apparent move to tighten central control over religious
expression across the nation, the reported that
“Internet searches for the Bible came up empty on leading online
Chinese retailers, such as , Taobao, and Amazon, although
some retailers offered analyses of the Bible or illustrated story-
books”.
Bible Society Australia chief executive officer Greg Clarke said
“the availability of online Bibles seems to have been modified –
probably in keeping with the regulations that were revised towards
the end of last year by the Religious Affairs department”.
“You can still get hold of a Bible legally by going to the ap-
proved outlets – mainly in churches,” Mr Clarke said.
“But there does seem to have been a tightening up of availabil-
ity of digital versions of the Bible.”
The explosion in recent years of online stores has offered easy
access to Chinese residents who wanted Bibles.
However the apparent Bible ban comes as China and the Holy
See have been working out a framework accord on the appoint-
ment of bishops, which eventually could lead to diplomatic rela-
tions between the Holy See and Beijing.
The Holy See has said the deal was not imminent.
Catholics in China are split between those in “underground”
communities that recognise the Pope and those belonging to a
state-controlled Catholic Patriotic Association where bishops are
appointed by the government in collaboration with local church
communities.
Despite the ongoing diplomatic rift, the number of Christian
adherents has grown rapidly, with predictions that in as little as 10
years, mainland China will be, demographically, the most Chris-
tian nation in the world.
Mr Clarke said the Bible Society Australia, which has subsi-
dised Bibles and Bible paper to China for more than 30 years,
recognised the current need for Bible funding was larger than ever.
“There are still many who do not have a copy of the Bible,”
he said. “The vast majority of Chinese people are not buying up
Australian real estate – they are rural or new urban poor. And they
cannot afford to buy a Bible.”
Mr Clarke estimated a rural worker in China would have to
spend the equivalent of “many weeks’ pay” to buy a Bible.
Rules on buying
Bibles in China
tightening up
Baptism opens door to Holy Spirit’s action
PARENTS who prefer not to baptise their
children in the hopes that they will “un-
derstand and ask for baptism” as adults
lack faith that the Holy Spirit will act in
their child’s life, Pope Francis said.
While some believed there was no
need to “baptise a child that does not
understand” the meaning of the sacra-
ment, the Pope said doing so would deny
the chance for “Christian virtues to grow
within that child and blossom”.
“Always give this opportunity to all
children: to have within themselves the
Holy Spirit that will guide them in life,”
the Pope said during a weekly general
audience in St Peter’s Square.
“Do not forget to baptise your children.”
In his talk, Pope Francis reflected on
the sacrament of Baptism as “the founda-
tion of Christian life”.
As the first of seven sacraments, he
said, Baptism “is the door that permits
Christ the Lord to make his dwelling in
us and allows us to immerse ourselves in
his mystery”.
While being immersed in water was a
common ritual “in various beliefs” that
signified the passing from one condition
to another, Pope Francis said Christians
must never forget that just as the body
was immersed in water at baptism, so was
the soul “immersed in Christ to receive
forgiveness from sin and shine with
divine light”.
“By virtue of the Holy Spirit, Baptism
immerses us in the death and resurrection
of the Lord, drowning the old man –
dominated by the sin that divides us from
God – in the baptismal font and giving
birth to the new man, recreated in Jesus,”
the Pope said. “In Him, all the sons of
Adam are called to new life.”
The Pope, who often tells people to
look up the date of their baptism, called
on those who did not remember the date
to ask their family and to celebrate it like
a birthday and “give thanks to the Lord
because it was on that day when Jesus
entered” in their lives.
“We should all know the date of our
baptism. It is another birthday, it is the
day of our rebirth,” he said.
Although Baptism occurred only once in
a Christian’s life, Pope Francis said, “it il-
luminates our entire life, guiding our steps
until (we reach) the heavenly Jerusalem”.
“No one deserves Baptism, which is
always a gift for everyone, adults and
newborns,” the Pope said.
“But like what happens to a seed full
of life, this gift takes root and brings forth
fruit in a land nourished by faith.” CNS
God’s grace:
Pope Francis
blesses an
infant during
the baptism
of 26 babies
in the Sistine
Chapel. Pope
Francis said
the sacra-
ment of Bap-
tism was “the
foundation of
Christian life”.
Photo: CNS