– With AAP
A controversial campaign launched to raise funds for ex-Wallaby Israel Folau’s legal stoush with Rugby Australia has been “paused” after donations topped $2 million in 48 hours.
The Australian Christian Lobby, which set up the fundraiser on its website to replace a banned GoFundMe campaign, said the flow of donations since it was opened on Tuesday had been overwhelming.
More than 20,000 people had donated more than $2.2 million by Thursday morning.
“Your overwhelming support means that Israel Folau has raised enough money for now,” the ACL said in a statement on its website.
“ACL, Izzy and everyone involved is humbled and grateful. We are hitting the pause button. But if the case drags on and Israel needs more support, we will reopen this campaign.”
Their fundraising effort was launched to replace an earlier campaign on GoFundMe that was taken down by the platform on Monday for breaching its service guidelines.
Change.org executive director Sally Rugg on Israel Folau. Post continues below video.
“Today we will be closing Israel Folau’s campaign and issuing full refunds to all donors. After a routine period of evaluation, we have concluded that this campaign violates our terms of service,” GoFundMe Australia regional manager Nicola Britton said in a statement, reported The Age.
“As a company, we are absolutely committed to the fight for equality for LGBTIQ+ people and fostering an environment of inclusivity. While we welcome GoFundMes engaging in diverse civil debate, we do not tolerate the promotion of discrimination or exclusion.
“Our platform exists to help people help others.”
Folau’s appeal for donations came after the termination of his Rugby Australia contract. On Sunday evening, Folau’s donations had exceeded $650,000, making his page the top trending campaign on GoFundMe.
But Folau’s appeal for money breached the company’s Terms and Conditions.
According to Number 8, Section A of GoFundMe’s Terms and Conditions, campaigns which they deem to be in support of, or for the legal defence of, the following crimes are prohibited.
“Campaigns we deem, in our sole discretion, to be in support of, or for the legal defence of alleged crimes associated with hate, violence, harassment, bullying, discrimination, terrorism, or intolerance of any kind relating to race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, sex, gender or gender identity, or serious disabilities or diseases,” the website clearly states.
The counter-fundraiser was launched by the ACL on Tuesday. It said the result not only showed there was support for Folau but a "great movement of quiet Australians have found their voice", which "cannot be ignored".
Folau wanted to raise $3 million for his unfair dismissal case, which he believes amounts to discrimination on religious grounds.
He is seeking $10 million in damages from Rugby Australia and wants his multimillion-dollar contract reinstated after it was pulled by the association.
Folau was sacked following a homophobic social media post which paraphrased a Bible passage, saying; "drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters" would go to hell unless they repented.
The caption was beneath an image that read, “Warning: Drunks. Homosexuals. Adulterers. Liars. Fornicators. Thieves. Atheists. Idolaters. Hell awaits you.”
In response to the support from the ACL and members of the public who donated to his recent campaign, Folau said he was "humbled".
"To those who have criticised me, I bear no ill will towards you. You have every right to express your own beliefs and opinions," he posted on Instagram.
ACL managing director Martyn Iles assured supporters on Wednesday night the money raised will solely be used to meet Folau’s legal costs.
“All money raised will only be used for costs associated with Israel’s defence,” Iles told The Australian.
“The money will never go to Israel personally and it will not be used by the ACL for other purposes.”
In a video released on Tuesday night, Iles called for Prime Minister Scott Morrison to make a stand on the issue when parliament resumes next week.
“Israel’s case is every Australian’s case,” Iles said.
“Thousands and thousands of quiet Australians have donated generously to Folau’s legal defence fund and many of them are the same quiet Australians who stood up for the religious freedom at the federal election only a month ago.
“The activists don’t just want to silence Israel Folau, they want to make an example out of him. They want to make it very clear that for people of faith, and people with beliefs that fit outside the narrow band of political correctness, there is no place for them.”
Folau, who has received salary payments in excess of $10 million throughout his sporting career, said last week Rugby Australia had made it clear they “will divert significant resources to fight me in court”, which is why he launched the campaign in the first place.
For more on Israel Folau:
Top Comments
People are focusing on the gay comment but it was bundled in with adulterers and others.So conservatives that means Barnaby Joyce and probably a few other pollies as well
"Fornicators" are in that group too ie. someone who has had sex outside of marriage, which is really quite a lot of people. The point of the Bible passage is that everyone needs to repent and turn to Jesus, because everyone's screwed up somehow. Folau has said in his Player's Voice article that it applies to himself just as much - the only difference that really matters is between the people who have turned to Jesus and those who haven't. Presumbly this is why he is trying to argue that his tweet was not homophobic and that Rugby Australia were therefore acting wrongfully when they sacked him on that basis.
Personally, I think he could have articulated that Christian position way WAY better than he did, and opened himself to the possibility and even the probability of people misinterpreting that particular passage in the way that they have. He's compounded that by taking the whole thing to court, presumably because he feels he's now fighting for the truth, when I think he'd be better off turning the other cheek and demonstrating Christian forgiveness and compassion.
Good reply and I also wonder how it intersects with Jesus on his render to Caesar what is Caesars as it was basically him violating a clause in his contract
There was no clause in the contract. Agree it should have been there, given the outcome though!
"They want to make it very clear that for people of faith, and people with beliefs that fit outside the narrow band of political correctness, there is no place for them.”
A bit like how these religious nuts want to make it clear that LGBTQI people are going to burn in hell for eternity? What absolute morons.
And that whole thing where they tried to stop gay marriage because a subsection of fanatics didn’t like what other people to choose to do with their lives. They weren’t so ‘live and let live’ then.
I hope Morrison does bring it up though, I can’t imagine anything more likely to turn the public against him than him bringing his Pentecostal nonsense into parliament. Peter Dutton must be licking his chops for the moment he has an excuse to roll Morrison.
Oh good grief, can you imagine if one rugby player’s Instagram post led to a leadership spill and a new PM? That’s some Butterfly Effect!