The chosen chief executive officer of Australian rules football club Essendon, Andrew Thorburn, has resigned after only one day in the job on the basis of his religious belief.
Thorburn is chairman of City on a Hill church which said on its website that lust, practicing homosexuality and sex outside of marriage are sins according to the bible’s teachings.
The church also described abortion as murder, saying “life begins at conception” and “the bible says that we were knit together and known by God in the womb.”
Thorburn’s religious views faced media backlash within hours of his appointment being announced on Tuesday.
It later caused Essendon to issue a statement saying Thorburn’s views “are in direct contradiction” to the club’s stance and that he couldn’t continue to serve as CEO at Essendon and as chairman of City on the Hill church.
Quitting Under Pressure
Thorburn announced his resignation on Tuesday, saying “it became clear to me that my personal Christian faith is not tolerated or permitted in the public square, at least by some and perhaps by many.”“I was being required to compromise beyond a level that my conscience allowed,” he wrote on LinkedIn.
“People should be able to hold different views on complex personal and moral matters and be able to live and work together, even with those differences, and always with respect. Behaviour is the key. This is all an important part of a tolerant and diverse society.”
The former CEO of the National Australia Bank also said the critical response from the media and community leaders—despite his leadership record—have made it clear that his faith and association with a church are “unacceptable in our culture if you wish to hold a leadership position in society.”
He argued society is “poorer for the loss of our great freedoms of thought, conscience and belief” and warned that “reducing complex matters to a sentence is dangerous.”
The former Bombers CEO noted his Christian faith has brought “profound change” in his life and made him a better husband, father, friend and a better leader.
Mixed Response
Responding to Thorburn’s resignation, Essendon on Tuesday said it is “committed to providing an inclusive, diverse and a safe Club, where everyone is welcome and respected.”Victorian Premier Dan Andrews weighed into the debate, calling Thorburn’s views “absolutely appalling.”
“I don’t support those views. That kind of intolerance and hatred is just wrong. That’s not the first time I’ve made that point,” he said.
The comment was challenged by Victoria Opposition Leader Matthew Guy, who said the premier had gone too far in taking part in private religious matters.
“What are we now banning people from going to church, banning people from going to a synagogue, banning people from going to a mosque? Where have we got? This is ridiculous,” Guy told 3AW radio.
“Football clubs can hire who they choose. I don’t see, if I was the premier, why I would be telling people who they can hire and fire; why would you?”
Meanwhile, Anglican archbishop of Melbourne, Philip Freier, supported Thorburn, saying in a statement “it would be unfortunate if people of faith are sidelined from participation in professional and public life on account of personal religious belief.”
