In 1956, the local parish priest Fr. Michel Devert discovered an abandoned medieval structure. Three years later, he restored it with a rugby theme in memory of three young rugby players from the area who lost their lives in a car accident. Read more

The sermons likened abortion to concentration camps and included claims that "practising homosexuality is a sin" - views which Victoria's premier, Daniel Andrews, said were "absolutely appalling", "bigotry" and "intolerant".

Daniel Andrews identifies as a Catholic.

The Archbishop of Melbourne, Peter Comensoli (pictured), the state's most senior Catholic, told the Herald Sun the premier's comments were harmful.

"Such language pitches some members of the community against others and contributes to an unhelpful spirit of division," Comensoli.

"It leaves ordinary people of faith questioning if they can publicly hold their committed beliefs, or even to be able to exercise leadership and service in the community."

"It really concerns me deeply," Comensoli told The Age. "It is quite a bizarre reality we seem to have entered into where people are being judged unworthy to lead because of some of their basic Christian beliefs."

Adel Salman, the president of the Islamic Council of Victoria, says the episode is the "most stark example" of organisations sacrificing religious freedom at the altar of corporate image.

"Someone should not be discriminated against and ostracised because of their religious views," Salman said. "I feel sorry for everyone involved, and I just hope this doesn't become a commonplace occurrence."

Thorburn quit as Essendon chief executive after club president David Barham insisted he choose between employment at the club and his volunteer position as chair of City on the Hill, an Anglican church.

Barham issued the ultimatum after the Herald Sun published extracts from a nine-year-old sermon delivered by a City on the Hill pastor which likened abortion rates to the Holocaust and urged same-sex attracted people to remain celibate.

Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne Phil Freier said his church rejected homophobia and he saw nothing in Thorburn's reported comments which contradicted that.

Prominent workplace lawyer Josh Bornstein said that under Victorian law, it is illegal for an employer to discriminate against an employee because of their religious belief or activity. He said it was arguable that in delivering its ultimatum to Thorburn, Essendon breached the Equal Opportunity Act.

Comensoli said it appeared a new "litmus test" had been established for people seeking leadership roles in football and other professions, and questioned the impact this could have on ordinary people of faith.

"Are they now having to rethink how they think?" he said.

"There is a level of intrusion of this into people's lives which I think is really concerning."

Sources

Brisbane Times

The Guardian

CathNews New Zealand

Former NAB CEO Andrew Thorburn (pictured) said, "I was being required to compromise beyond a level that my conscience allowed," after his 30-hour stint with the Melbourne AFL club ended.

"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 an important part of a tolerant and diverse society."

A day after he was appointed to run the club he had supported since childhood, Mr Thorburn resigned after it emerged he was chairman of a church that has published a series of articles critical of homosexuality and abortion.

Essendon president Dave Barham said the club acted swiftly to review revelations that the City on a Hill church posted a 2013 sermon to its website that said acting on same-sex attraction was "a sin" and another likening abortion to concentration camps.

Barham said those views did not align with Essendon's values as a safe, inclusive, diverse and welcoming club for all.

Mr Thorburn said: "Let me be clear - I love all people, and have always promoted and lived an inclusive, diverse, respectful and supportive workplace - where people are welcomed regardless of their culture, religious beliefs and sexual orientation."

Mr Barham said, "The board made clear that despite these not being views that Andrew Thorburn has expressed personally and that were also made prior to him taking up his role as chairman, he could not continue to serve in his dual roles at the Essendon Football Club and as chairman of City on the Hill.

"I want to stress that neither the board nor Andrew was aware of the comments from the 2013 sermon until we read about them this morning.

"I also want to stress that this is not about vilifying anyone for their personal religious beliefs, but about a clear conflict of interest with an organisation whose views do not align at all with our values as a safe, inclusive, diverse and welcoming club for our staff, our players, our members, our fans, our partners and the wider community."

Mr Thorburn said his faith had not previously led to any issues with his leading large and diverse companies.

"I was CEO of a bank that had 5000 people, I was a CEO of a bank that had 35,000 people - now I'm going to a different organisation, but in all those, there's a diversity of people."

Sources

The Australian

ABC News

CathNews New Zealand

In the course of the interview, Francis was asked if he might consider writing an encyclical on sports.

His response leaves open an intriguing possibility: "Perhaps this conversation can be defined as the start of an encyclical on sport. Let's see what God will suggest for the rest of the pontificate!" Read more

Hopoate also revealed he was yet to decide if he would play in Canterbury's Sunday clash with the Sydney Roosters in just over two weeks.

As he crossed the goal line Turo, a devout Christian, raised his right arm and pointed skyward. He also held the football up with his left hand.

"I was just trying to give glory to God," Turo said.

Instead of signalling a touchdown, an official standing on the goal line reached into his back pocket for a yellow card.

The call: Turo was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, for taunting, said Mexico head coach Tee Murabito, who questioned the call. Read more

And it was not just a matter of praying for a victory.

That strategy was no doubt not ignored; on this occasion seems to have been remarkably unsuccessful.

But it was their shared Christian faith that helped build their evident esprit de corps.

It was like a glue that helped hold these teams together.

"At the end of the day we're humble people. We always try to circle up with our opponents at the end of a match to pray."

"When we are in the circle we obviously thank the opposition but we also thank the big guy upstairs for the occasion." said Anthony Perensie who plays for Samoa.

He said that the Christian faith shared by most of the players is part of what binds them together as a team.

"The entire squad stops to pray before and after matches... "[Faith] helps keep us together. It helps bond us as a team." says Fiji's captain Akapusi Qera.

Nili Latu from Tonga told the Nuku'alofa Times, "Everything revolves around our faith."

Martin Saunders, contributing editor to Christian Today, reporting this phenomenon appeared to be surprised that Christian faith continues to be so closely connected to the every day life of many Pasifika people.

Even believing Christians from the secularised world are not sure quite what to make of God being interested in Rugby.

Seeing a 100Kg+ giants singing hymns is a bit of a novelty.

Christian Today is an independent media company with an evangelical christian orientation

Source

• www.christiantoday.com
• nukualofatimes.tbu.to
• Image: radionz.co.nz

Sports teams can help develop participants and spectators in important values, including 'brotherhood' generosity, honesty, self-sacrifice and respect for one's adversaries, the pontiff told players and fans of the European Soccer Championship.

Benedict XVI said that if sport is understood in this way, it is not an end but a means, and can be a tool of civilization, motivating people to put the best of themselves on the field and reject that which could be dangerous or harmful for oneself and for others.

The Holy Father in particular singled out team sports, saying they "overcome the logic of individualism and selfishness, which often characterize human relations, in order to make room for the logic of brotherhood and love, the only things that can lead to promoting the common good on every level."

The Pope made his comments in a message to Archbishop Jozef Michalik, president of the Polish episcopal conference, on the occasion of the UEFA EURO 2012 being held in Poland and Ukraine.

Sources

• CNS
• Times of India
• Image: Coach Rey

Senior Islamic figures say people are seeking them out for insights into the All Black's preparations for the Rugby World Cup.

While refusing to comment further on the matter, a member of Australian team management confirmed that the directive, with specific reference to biblical passages, was included in the IRB's most recent weekly update circulated to all teams.

Wallaby winger Digby Ioane, a devout Christian, said: "I don't write Bible passages on my strapping but I know a lot of guys from other teams who do.

"They are saying that you can draw a cross but any words you have to write down and take it to the manager who has to show it to the IRB. I'm just glad they haven't told me to take my tattoos off."

Manu's arms, legs and torso are covered with tattoos. There is the name of his mother on his wrist, another stresses the importance of putting family first, and on his upper left arm he has a depiction of the family's favourite passage from the Bible, Philippians chapter four, verse six, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

"It just means for all your problems, you pray to God and ask him to help you through the tough times and he'll get you through it," says Manu.

"I grew up going to church each Sunday and it's a massive part of my life. I feel really blessed to be in this position … I'm really close to my family. They're always going to be there for me and a big part of my life."

Source

• The Sydney Morning Herald
• Image: The Age

The 30 strong squad features 21 overseas-based players. "It's a team literally from around the globe - all over Europe, Japan, France, New Zealand and Australia, as well as quite a few of us in the UK - and logistically it has been a bit of a nightmare getting us all in one place at one time," says captain Deacon Manu

"Services are important for us as a team. Training hard and then a church service has brought us close", says Manu, who was raised in Taranaki

"We are a team that play hard but we always take that spiritual aspect with us on to the field; it's part of the Fiji culture. It's different to a lot of other teams but it's a huge part of the guys' growing up."

Source

• New Zealand Herald
• Image: Yahoo Sport