Alan Jones lashes Israel Folau for linking bushfires and drought to gay marriage

‘Button up. These comments don’t help’: Alan Jones blasts Israel Folau for blaming killer bushfires and the drought on Australia legalising gay marriage and abortion

  • Folau on Sunday said recent wildfires were god’s way of speaking to Australia
  • Alan Jones addressed comments on his 2GB radio show on Monday morning
  • ‘Israel, button up. Button up. These comments don’t help,’ the broadcaster said
  • Nationals backbencher Barnaby Joyce also slammed Israel Folau on Monday

Alan Jones has told Israel Folau to ‘button up’ after the disgraced rugby star said bushfires and drought were punishments from God for legalising gay marriage and abortion.

In an extraordinary sermon at his north-west Sydney church on Sunday, Folau said recent wildfires that have killed six and decimated 530 homes were God’s way of speaking to Australia.

Jones, who vigorously defended Folau when he was sacked by Rugby Australia for a homophobic Instagram post in April, addressed the comments on his 2GB radio show on Monday.

Alan Jones (pictured in an Instagram photo), addressed Folau’s comments on his 2GB radio show on Monday

‘Look, Israel Folau has suggested the fires are God’s punishment for the legalistion of same-sex marriage and abortion,’ Jones said.

‘Now, Israel is a lovely human being, I know him well. Israel, button up. Button up.

‘These comments don’t help. I’m not going to make any further comment other than that,’ he said.

In his sermon at the Church of Jesus Christ in Kenthurst, Folau said: ‘They’ve legalised same-sex marriage… going against the laws that God says. 

‘You have changed the law and changed the ordinance of these things. Look how rapid these bushfires, these droughts, all these things have come in a short period of time. You think it is a coincidence or not?’ 

He continued: ‘Abortion – it is okay now to murder and kill infants, unborn children, and they think that to be okay.

‘God is speaking to you guys, Australia, you need to repent and you need to take these laws and turn it back to what is right by God, what God says in his word.’

The 30-year-old said same-sex marriage and abortion were ‘evil in the eyes of God’ but were deemed by society as ‘good’.

Footage (above) shows Israel Folau suggesting same-sex marriage and abortion are to blame for Australia's bushfire crisis

Footage (above) shows Israel Folau suggesting same-sex marriage and abortion are to blame for Australia’s bushfire crisis

‘This generation is full of arrogance and full of pride,’ he said.

‘They want to turn their back on God. They don’t want to know one bit of who God is because they’re so immersed in their sinful, wicked, evil ways.’ 

Four people have died in bushfires on the mid-north coast of NSW, while blazes continue to threaten homes in the state, Queensland and Western Australia. 

Nationals backbencher and former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce also slammed Folau on Monday.

‘He throws rocks at us so he feels good, we throw rocks back at him so we feel good … but not one of those actions is making a sandwich for a person fighting the fires,’ Mr Joyce told the Seven Network.

‘Not one of those actions is actually in a fire truck trying to stop these fires. Israel can concentrate on what he wants to say and I don’t really care and we’ll concentrate on the fire.’  

Folau, one of Australia’s best rugby players, was sacked for an Instagram post that urged gay people to repent for their ‘sins’ and is suing for unfair dismissal.

Folau (pictured with with Maria) told worshippers God was speaking to Australia and said: 'You need to repent'

Folau (pictured with with Maria) told worshippers God was speaking to Australia and said: ‘You need to repent’

 

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