Australian Christian Lobby launching fundraising website for Israel Folau's legal fight

The Australian Christian Lobby seems poised to take up Israel Folau's fundraising campaign to pay for his fight against Rugby Australia.

The former Wallabies star has seen his multi-million dollar contract torn up by the national body, after he posted religious views that supported homophobia - for the second time in 12 months - on social media.

Rugby Australia found him guilty of a high-level breach of contract, but Folau vowed to take his sacking to employment court.

To that end, he created a GoFundMe page with a target of AU$3 million to pay legal costs, but the website closed down his page on Monday, after it attracted support worth $AU750,000.

He has found support from the Australian Christian Lobby, which has vowed to continue his fundraising drive.

"The success of the Folau fundraiser was giving 'quiet Australians' a voice," managing director Martyn Iles told the Daily Telegraph.

"By launching an altervative fundraising site to GoFundMe, we are ensuring the voice of quiet Australians continues to be heard and Israel Folau continues to know that he is not alone.

"Israel's case is our case, if we want to live free and embrace our beliefs without fear of being marginalised or discriminated against."

Folau's GoFundMe page added further fuel for his critics, who highlighted his multi-million dollar property portfolio and the abundance of other arguably more worthy causes represented on the fundraising site.

But Folau's supporters lashed out at GoFundMe for closing his page, claiming it had "buckled to demands against the freedom of Australians to donate to his cause".

But GoFundMe insisted the campaign breached its terms of service and promised to refund all donations.

"As a company, we are absolutely committed to the fight for equality for LGBTIQ people and fostering an environment of inclusivity," said GoFundMe Australia regional manager Nicola Britton.

"While we welcome GoFundMe's engaging in diverse civil debate, we do not tolerate the promotion of discrimination or exclusion."

GoFundMe terms and conditions state the site cannot be used to raise money for "the legal defence of... intolerance of any kind relating to race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, sex, gender or gender identity".

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