Irish Christian rugby player Jacob Stockdale has described Israel Folau's social media post about those destined for hell as "disrespectful" and "alienating".
Rugby Australia player had his four-year AU$4m contract terminated after posting on his Instagram account in April "Drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolators - Hell awaits you".
Ulster and Ireland star Stockdale explained to the The Irish Times why he disagreed with Folau's decision to share the post.
"He has a lot of followers out there so he has a certain responsibility, as do I, not to alienate certain people in the community, to not insult people," Stockdale said.
Referring to the post, he added: "It preaches God is a spiteful God, a hateful God. You are going to hell. You are going to burn in hell.
"Realistically, God is an all-loving God. He's a forgiving God."
Folau hasn't revealed if he will launch a legal challenge against Rugby Australia in the Supreme Court.
He has until 10th June to decide whether to take up the case with the Fair Work Commission by filing a complaint for unlawful dismissal on religious grounds.
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Article by Eno Adeogun
Eno Adeogun is a multimedia journalist for Premier.
