There are a couple of issues here.
Firstly there is the problem of
how you express your views. You may think I'm ugly, but we would both agree that telling me that '
I think you're ugly' would be unacceptably offensive, even if it were true. If you
must tell me, tact, diplomacy and consideration for the other, are all considerations here.
Secondly there is the issue of
if, in a civil society you should make a point of telling me. You need to weigh up the virtue of honesty against the damage you're doing. Apart from destroying my self image what do you achieve and why should you make a point of telling me?
Folau has the right to religious expression as long as he observes some basic rules of human interaction. The first of these is the realisation that there is no pressing reason f
rom my point of vew that he tell me how ugly I am. The second is, if he really must tell me, he will adopt a tactful and respectful way of doing it. We expect this of anyone. Why should a Christian have a different set of rules?
The other issue is acceptance of the reality that secular society has moved on. We no longer accept that homosexuality or same sex marriage is wrong. While I accept that you may have a different view, trying to impose your view simply will not work. Forcing the issue merely amplifies the perception of Christians as homophobic bigots.
Folau has gone out of his way to tell, and adopted a totally tactless way of doing it. Whatever his motives, he is doing far more harm than good. He is drawing Rugby into his private view of morality and Rugby, understandably, is unhappy. In the process he is offending a significant proportion of the people he, as a celebrity rugby player, represents.
This is not a religious issue. It takes in issues like tact, politeness, diplomacy and basic human decency.
As my mother once told me:
If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
OB
