Australian rugby star Israel Folau has already come out against same-sex marriage and said LGBT people are going to hell. This week, he linked to an 11-minute anti-gay video by an American evangelist.
Folau has stood by his anti-gay views and on Tuesday posted a video by David Wilkerson, tweeting: “With great love i wanted to share this video in the hope that people watch it and think about it. Jesus is coming back soon and he wants us to turn to him through repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38) please don’t harden your heart.”
With scenes of rainbow flags from pride events as the backdrop, Wilkerson warns of “sexual perversions beyond description” in the world and urges LGBT people to repent and seek God’s forgiveness before Judgment Day comes.
Folau has been unapologetic in his views and has been condemned by many in Australia for his bigotry. Peter FitzSimons, a longtime Sydney Morning Herald columnist, spoke for many when he wrote:
I am GOBSMACKED by your actions, your delusions, your arrogance, the sheer stupidity, not to mention venality, of posting such a link.
Where to from here, for you? Hopefully, gone. Many have wondered – and I am among them – whether you have some kind of martyr complex, where you keep posting that kind of stuff, knowing you will be crucified, wanting to be crucified.
I don’t know. But I know this.
The most important issue here is that you stop vilifying gays. Religious nutters have got away with it for centuries. No more. … Rugby is an inclusive game. If you don’t get that, you don’t get rugby, and it is time for you move on.
Folau is an anti-gay bigot who uses his religion as an excuse to preach hate. We’ve long seen his type in the U.S. and are wise to the con.