Disgraced former rugby star Israel Folau says devil is to blame for transgender children

Disgraced rugby star Israel Folau has claimed that allowing children to be transgender is the work of the 'devil' in his latest outburst.

The former rugby star was sacked from Australia's national rugby team in May after he claimed while using social media that 'hell awaits' gay people. He is seeking $10 million in damages over his dismissal.

Now, he's reasserted these homophobic beliefs, this time during a church sermon on Sunday 16 June, and taking aim at transgender children.

In the 20-minute sermon, shared to Facebook by Sydney’s Truth of Jesus Christ Church, the ex-rugby star and devout Christian blamed the government for 'making those decisions for young kids' and that the devil was 'slowly' sweeping through the government, reports the Sun.

Speaking about transgender children, he said:

You see in today's youths and everything, they are allowing young kids in primary school to be able to have the permission to change their gender if they want to by taking away the permission of their parents.

Now they are trying to take control as a government to make those decisions for young kids who are basically 16 years old or younger, they don't even know what they are doing.

This is what the devil is trying to do, to instil into the government, into this world, into society, and it is slowly happening.

He then went on to urge Christians to be 'bold' and to profess their faith in the workplace even if it means they'll be 'cast out'.

He added:

Are we too scared because we might be cast out by our workplace or cast out of somewhere because we're not liked or loved by those around us and don't believe the same thing we do?

You might be the only born-again Christian in that workplace, you might feel a bit awkward with your co-workers because they are in the world and you're not.

We should feel blessed… because God has called us.

Folau was sacked from Rugby Australia in May after he shared a post to his Instagram account that said "hell awaits" for "drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolaters".

Alongside the post, he shared the caption:

Those that are living in Sin will end up in Hell unless you repent. Jesus Christ loves you and is giving you time to turn away from your sin and come to him.

Despite getting sacked for the post, Folau has refused to apologise. Speaking to press, he said:

It's obviously a decision that's in the process right now but I believe in a God that's in control of all things.

Whatever his will is, whether that's to continue playing or not, I'm more than happy to do what he wants me to do.

First and foremost, I live for God now.

His plans for me are better than whatever I can think.

In response to the post, Rugby Australia and New South Wales Rugby issued a statement, saying Foula had committed a:

high-level breach of the Professional Players' Code of Conduct.

They added:

As a sport that is proud of the values of inclusion, passion, integrity, discipline, respect and teamwork that underpin our game globally and our Code of Conduct, we will defend those values and the right for all people to feel safe and welcome in our game regardless of their gender, race, background, religion or sexuality.

This latest sermon comes a week after Folau filed legal action against Rugby Australia and his former team the New South Wales Waratah, claiming he's been a victim of discrimination on religious grounds. He said:

No Australian of any faith should be fired for practising their religion

HT Pink News

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