What happens to Israel Folau will affect you, us and all Christians | John Steenhof - HRLA

Martyn Iles interviews John Steehhof CEO, Human Rights Law Alliance, regarding the implications of the Israel Folau case for Christian employees in Australia. He explains that this case has implications for employees in any walk of life. Indeed the Human Rights Law Alliance has had similar cases on which is has been giving advice.

We Must Stand With Israel Folau - The Truth of It - Season 2 Episode 5

Martyn Iles gives a broad ranging view of the Israel Folau case and its implications.. He explains that Folau was convicted of a high-level breach of the Rugby Australia (RA) code of conduct, principally because he was unwilling to deny his Christian beliefs. Iles then explains that many of us are subject to similar codes of conduct, accreditation with professional bodies and conditions of enrollment at university and are vulnerable in a similar way. These codes contain “flabby” clauses which can be interpreted and implied in different ways.

He explains that the RA’s interpretation of the code of conduct is incompatible with key aspects of Christian truth. The Human Rights Law Alliance has fought many similar cases in the past, which have not been as high profile. There are also broad implications for Christians living in Australia today where morality is being reinterpreted.

A Ruling in Canada that Means Christians May Not Be Able to Stay in the Medical Field

Albert Mohler expresses concern for those in the professions where ‘new morality’ is dictating the professional standards historically set by the professions themselves. He highlights a court ruling in Canada against doctors, challenging a legal obligation to refer patients for euthanasia to a doctor who would kill them. The Court found the doctors’ Constitutional right to religious liberty was offended, but that the legal (not Constitutional) right to equitable access to medical treatment trumps the doctors’ Constitutional right.

Beware the choke tackle of Diversity Inc

‘The last thing we need is for Rugby Australia, not to mention Qantas, to encourage more corporate boards and chief executives to impose speech penalties on thousands of employees who, ironically, appear far more diverse than the gaggle of boards and chief executives schooling them in diversity and inclusion.

Having said that, it is not necessarily desirable that corporations have no right to sack employees whose private conduct brings a brand into contempt, or which costs a corporation in terms of sponsorship or customer base. This would also be an intrusion of the state into a corporation’s right to associate freely and to protect its own image. Must Rugby Australia keep Folau even if it means losing sponsor after sponsor? There is no simple solution.’

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/religious-freedom-lost-as-white-magazine-shuts/news-story/5c00c977426bd2228f4e0613b34524aa

Freedom lost as magazine shuts

‘In a sign Australia faces a “crisis of freedom”, The Weekend Australian can ­reveal a successful international wedding magazine that chose not to feature gay couples will today announce its decision to shut down after becoming the target of an intimidation campaign.

The founders of White magazine, Christians Luke and Carla Burrell, said they were the targets of an activist campaign that deterred their advertisers, frightened their staff and included threats of physical harm because of their stand on same-sex weddings …

In another case, Christian wedding photographer Jason Tey was taken to the West Australian Equal Opportunity Commission after he agreed to photograph the children of a same-sex couple but disclosed a conflict of belief, in case they felt more comfortable hiring someone else.’

Dina Gerdeman reports on an article written by Derek van Bever, Senior Lecturer from Harvard Business School, and graduate of Harvard Divinity School.

Given the marked increase in religious discrimination complaints, van Bever urges business owners and managers to have policies in place that clearly articulate how to handle ‘religion in the workplace’. He cites two cases where ‘religious beliefs clashed with business principles.’ In both cases, people felt offended. The ‘subtler lesson’ for employers is to make sure that ‘people feel respected.’

This article clearly articulates the issues relating to the Israel Folau case from an HR management perspective. This article concludes that the question is whether Folau exercised his lawful right to freedom of speech? Or has he incited or encouraged hatred, serious contempt, or severe ridicule against the groups that he named, particularly the LGBTQI+ community? The CEO of QANTAS, Alan Joyce, stated that the meme had serious negative implications for LBGTI+ people, especially youth. This video by Martyn Iles provides an alternative perspective as to whether the mental health outcomes from LGBTI+ people is due to their societal acceptance. Make sure you read the links to related articles to get a comprehensive view of the facts relating to this issue.

This is a very helpful overview of the Folau case. Wilkinson details Folau’s credentials as a rugby player, the offending Instagram post, ARU’s contract terms, the involvement of QANTAS and Folau’s legal recourse. For an even more in-depth analysis from a legal perspective, see this article.

Politically Correct Discrimination

A quick but helpful video showing how people inconsistently discriminate against Christians in the workplace.

Martyn Iles - Religious Liberty

Martyn Iles quickly goes through many of the recent Australian cases of people of faith getting into trouble with their employers because of their beliefs.