News Andrew Thorburn is retaining legal counsel for wrongful termination by the Essendon Football Club. NOW WITH BIG BANGS

[Chief]

Posts arguing about the validity of transgender people and abortion and all that stuff are being moved. Stick to the topic please.

Thread bans will start tonight for people who cannot stay on topic.

Essendon Football Club CEO Announcement.

Further news:

• New Bombers boss responds to backlash after appointment that ‘spits in the face of every queer Essendon member’
• New Essendon CEO, Andrew Thorburn, involved in church expressing homophobic, anti-abortion views
• Victorian Premier Andrews slams absolutely appalling views of new Essendon CEO'S church
• New Dons CEO to lead 'inclusive' club despite divisive church links

• Thorburn resigns... Essendon Club Statement
• AFR article - paywalled

 

[Schneebly11]

Saying we are an inclusive club and your not included while he never actually commited any offenses besides hurt a few feelings is ridiculous.

C'mon stop the misrepresenting.

It wasn't merely his "beliefs" or pure attendance of this church, he is the damn Chairman of an extremists fundamentalist Pentecostal style group. They aren't even your garden variety Christians.

People are making comparisons to Waleed Aly or Bachar Houli, but leave out the fact neither of them were in charge of a extremist Wahhabist style Muslim group.

It's the fact he headed up this fundamentalist group, not his mere "beliefs".

To draw an even more apt comparison, it would be like Brian Houston or George Pell had been appointed to head up the club. No one would allow that, but basically because this bloke is less known he doesn't have the same stigma.

 

[Ricketz]

Mr Thorburn. He was given an ultimatum. Quibble if you must.

What would Jesus do?

Well in this case we know. You cannot serve two masters.

 

[Randomizor]

Thats the clubs problem, it rejected him based on his religious views. If it said he was unsuitable, no problem.

The (self inflcted) damage done to the club to date, would be less costly than IF Thorburn chose to sue (hooefully he wont).

No. Not his religious views. His views.

If he was an atheist and was the chair of an anti-gay organisation then he would have met the same fate. He was not booted for his religion but for his values.

 

[Aristotle Pickett]

Not even Christian, Thornburn wasn't even my preferred CEO, but I cancelled my membership today, the discrimination of a bloke for being religious I find disgraceful and shouldn't be tolerated imo.

He wasn't sacked because of religion, he was sacked for supporting homophobia and denying rape victimms abortions.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

But perfectly fine for Dear Leader Dan to involve himself. Of course, everything just slides off him like Teflon. Pathetic

He was pandering too. Politicians are just hopelessly transparent.

 

[Carringbush2010]

He wasn't sacked because didn't step down because of religion, he was sacked for supporting homophobia and denying rape victimms abortions. stepped down because being a board member of a church with such views was a clear conflict of interest. Whether or not he disagrees with the church's views is up for debate but fair speculation being a board member he agrees with this church.

EFA.

 

[Aristotle Pickett]

EFA.

If your Chair of a group, you take on those views as your own as you represent that group.

 

[Good Horse]

Thorburn says its dangerous for people to be hired and fired based on their religious beliefs. Even it appears when those beliefs are considered abhorrent by modern society, and they do more than believe them, they lead a church which promotes and tries to expand that worldview and seeks political cover for privilege to do so.. Religious beliefs are supposed to be some sort of universal get out of jail free card in this system it seems, the mere existence of beliefs that come from religion is enough to sanctify any action it seems.

Would love to see what happens to someone who tries to stone a co-worker and their argument is they are merely living their creed according to their understanding of Leviticus.

But apparently my sexuality, which is not a belief system, or "lifestyle choice" as I have seen mindvomited by dickheads on this thread, but is an integral part of who I am and is how I was born, and hurts nobody is for the same people an absolutely valid reason to discriminate against me in employment, so much so they wanted that right enshrined in law.

I am sick and ****ing tired of the hypocrisy of religious groups in calling their discrimination good, and my desire to stop their being able to practice it on people like me, bad.

I want somewhere, somehow, our society to say, you are not the problem, the people with a problem with you are the problem, and if that hurts religious fundies, they can kiss my arse. I should not have to cow tow, hide, or aquiesce in the shitstained worldview of these parasites.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

which bit?

He is the chair of that church, the front man for want of a better word, their words are his whether he puts his money where his mouth is or not.

Turning up to a rally and leading a rally aren’t the same things, but you know that, and that’s what you’re trying to obsfuscate.

 

[Chief]

Thorburn says its dangerous for people to be hired and fired based on their religious beliefs.

Ask him how many Rastafarians they have working at his church.

 

[Defabs]

No, you seem to be confusing "inclusive and welcoming" with anarchy. Society always imposes behavioral restrictions on its population. It's not anything goes - some things are not acceptable. Vilifying a group of people based on their eye colour wouldn't be acceptable. That's not to say you can't dislike blue eyed people, but if you start discriminating against them because of it you would not be welcome in society any more.

Your version of anything goes is the libertarian pipe dream that we can be free to act without consequence, but that has never been the case.

Not sure if you are a Swans or Cats supporter there but I would say the Swans are the most hypocritical club in Australia.

They are very happy to market themselves as the leaders of diversity but are happy for Qatar Airways to be their major sponsor.

Can’t have it both ways. Who owns Qatar Airways? And what do they preach against?

Could you imagine if the airline had deep seeded Christian roots and had the same views.

Might be an appropriate time for the Swans to tear up the contract with Qatar Airways if we are going to be consistent here.

 

[Carringbush2010]

If your Chair of a group, you take on those views as your own as you represent that group.

I agree, although he did state he does not share those views, me reckons he's lyin.

 

[Ricketz]

Not sure if you are a Swans or Cats supporter there but I would say the Swans are the most hypocritical club in Australia.

They are very happy to market themselves as the leaders of diversity but are happy for Qatar Airways to be their major sponsor.

Can’t have it both ways. Who owns Qatar Airways? And what do they preach against?

Could you imagine if the airline had deep seeded Christian roots and had the same views.

Might be an appropriate time for the Swans to tear up the contract with Qatar Airways if we are going to be consistent here.

I am a Cats supporter, but the Swans are my back up team if we lose in the finals.

Qatar the country is as you say, but Qatar Airways "respects the laws of every country it serves and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, sexuality, religion or nationality," (senior vice president in charge of customer experience, Rossen Dimitrov).

You won't see their advertising or web sites publishing hateful bigotry, I am guessing. It's more an example of what that church on the dirt pile should behave like - respect all the people in the country you operate and keep your personal beliefs to yourself.

 

[Aristotle Pickett]

I agree, although he did state he does not share those views, me reckons he's lyin.

Might be a money laundering scheme to get the tax-free charity status.

 

[tandino]

Dan is the leader showing leadership. Dutton is a failed ex cop and professional grifter in opposition, flailing for attention and relevance.

Dan doesn't hold a view unless it's been workshopped to death.

 

[gouki88]

Before my reply, I'll be clear, I find this appointment is / was a clear conflict of interest. Can't have a board member of a church with such beliefs being a ceo of one the highest profile sporting organizations in the country.

However you've stumbled here, 'inclusion does not include intolerant views' how is that possible? If we're talking about including everyone and every view.

Also 'intolerant views' - well that obviously depends on how one views intolerant. There'll be differing views that will vary widely, none the less intolerance of ss relationships or the abortion issue is obviously a minority view, thankfully very much so.

However inclusion is spruiked as 'inclusive of all', well that is a blatant lie because is it obviously impossible.

So if the EFC or any other group / individual for that matter wish to 'include everyone' they need contradict that by saying 'but we won't include certain elements'

That last sentence obviously cannot be debated.

It's a well established philosophical concept, popularised by Karl Popper. It's inherently paradoxical.

https://gprivate.com/616z6

 

[mmmifff]

Kym Peake being part of the panel to select Thorburn.

‘We have no problem with anyone’s faith’: Dons boss explains Thorburn call

Ex-bank boss Andrew Thorburn did not declare to Essendon that the church he chaired held views that might be a concern for the Bombers before he was hired as CEO.

www.theage.com.au

Another element in the recipe for disaster.

Victoria's top health bureaucrat resigns following coronavirus hotel quarantine inquiry

The head of Victoria's health department, Kym Peake, resigns "to pursue other opportunities", less than two months after facing the state's hotel quarantine inquiry.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Freshwater]

I agree, although he did state he does not share those views, me reckons he's lyin.

You can’t lose a job on religious grounds especially when you’ve said nothing, because some nuffy says “your lying”.

 

[gouki88]

Umm David Barham did actually say that EFC is inclusive of all / everyone. I could name dozens examples daily that say the same thing.

David Barham is a tool, and it's a meaningless expression.

 

[fishardansin]

David Barham is a tool, and it's a meaningless expression.

You're right twice!

 

[Carringbush2010]

David Barham is a tool, and it's a meaningless expression.

Agreed it's meaningless, so why do we here this line trotted out daily?

 

[Ricketz]

Not sure if you are a Swans or Cats supporter there but I would say the Swans are the most hypocritical club in Australia.

They are very happy to market themselves as the leaders of diversity but are happy for Qatar Airways to be their major sponsor.

Can’t have it both ways. Who owns Qatar Airways? And what do they preach against?

Could you imagine if the airline had deep seeded Christian roots and had the same views.

Might be an appropriate time for the Swans to tear up the contract with Qatar Airways if we are going to be consistent here.

Also, this from the Rainbow Swans,
"We actually think we can turn it on its head a little bit and say, we've got the Qatar logo surrounded by rainbow flags. What message are we sending to Qatar?

"It's an awesome opportunity to change them, little steps at a time... show them what it's like to have a thriving gay and lesbian community involved."

 

[Ricketz]

Dan doesn't hold a view unless it's been workshopped to death.

Still, his state, he gets to champion the values he wants.

 

[Freshwater]

Check out the cess pit of their Youtube channel (which instigated the uproar on Monday against Thorburn).

Here's some excerpts:

1. LGBTIQ+ should not make their sexual preference their "identity" and should just repress it as you'll be reborn without those attractions.
2. You should deny your attractions to those of the same sex, take up the cross, your life is to be sacrificed to follow Jesus.
3. Same sex attraction is a temptation, not a sin, but same sex marriage or intercourse is most definitely a sin and you will be damned.
4. Fight to remove those same sex attractions or humanity is "stuffed".
5. Sex is overrated. Just focus on loving God.

Oh but don't forget Jesus loves you.

I'll leave it there.

They are not forcing anyone to live this way. They are allowed to interpret the Bible the way they see it and then offer that teaching to whoever would like to try it. It is a free country. It is for anyone to accept or reject. There are a million different lifestyle’s and practices out there, espoused by a million different groups these days, I would reject those I don’t wish to apply myself to and accept what I am interested in. Personal choice is paramount, people are busy bodies and authoritarian in their thinking more and more these last few years.

 

[Freshwater]

Well then why did he choose the church over the CEO position at EFC?

He was offered an ultimatum, which is illegal workplace law. So he could sue them for a lot of money.