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A test for people of faith: Faith leaders ‘appalled’ by treatment of Thorburn
Peter Comensoli, the Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne and until Wednesday, an Essendon supporter, says it is troubling and bizarre that newly appointed club chief executive Andrew Thorburn was forced to quit his job because of his Christian beliefs.
While the former NAB chief’s humiliating exit one day after his appointment is, in football terms, further evidence of dysfunctional governance at a club that has not won a final in 18 years, faith groups see a bigger issue at play; a growing intolerance for religion in Australian public life.
Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne Peter Comensoli.Credit: Simon Schluter
Comensoli says he is so “appalled” at the message sent to faith communities by Thorburn’s treatment, he is looking for another club to support.
“It really concerns me deeply,” he 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.”
Andrew Thorburn resigned from his position as Essendon chief executive the day after his appointment.Credit: Eddie Jim
Thorburn quit as Essendon chief executive on Tuesday 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 which has congregations in Melbourne, Geelong and the Surf Coast.
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.
Although the theological underpinnings of the sermons – that human life begins at conception, marriage is between a man and a woman and sex should be confined to marriage – are Catholic orthodoxy, Barham said the values espoused by the church contradicted those of the club.
Thorburn says relinquishing his position at the church was a “compromise beyond a level that my conscience allowed” and that he should be judged on his behaviour, not his beliefs.
On Wednesday, he issued a further statement saying he had been inundated by people concerned that their own careers could suffer because of their faith. “I believe that there are many Australians who fear the implications for their livelihoods, aspirations and participation in community life,” he said.
“It is troubling that faith or association with a church, mosque, synagogue or temple could render a person immediately unsuited to holding a particular role. That is a dangerous idea, one that will only reduce tolerance of others.”
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.
Workplace lawyer Josh Bornstein.Credit: Simon Schluter
Bornstein said the Essendon episode underscored the tension between shifting community and corporate attitudes towards diversity and inclusion and the legal protections for religious beliefs in Victoria. “Company values and inclusion policies cannot override a statute,” he said.
He added that balancing freedom from homophobic vilification and freedom of religion was best done by the parliament; not by football club boards or within the colosseum-like atmosphere of a social media storm. “What occurs is panicked brand management and a brutal exit for the employee,” he said.
In Victoria, where a state election is just seven weeks away, the colosseum is particularly charged. Premier Daniel Andrews’ condemnation of City on the Hill’s position on homosexuality and abortion as hatred and bigotry heaped pressure on Essendon to cut their ties with Thorburn. A day later Opposition Leader Matthew Guy derided the club for doing so.
“What are we now banning people from going to church, banning people from going to a synagogue, banning people from going to a mosque? This is ridiculous,” Guy told Radio 3AW. Andrews said he would continue to speak out against “rampant homophobia”.
Then-NAB chairman Ken Henry (left) and Andrew Thorburn at the bank’s annual general meeting in 2018.Credit: Arsineh Houspian
Bornstein questioned why, given the scale of misconduct at the NAB under Thorburn’s tenure, which was exposed during the banking royal commission, and his absence of contrition – noted by Commissioner Kenneth Hayne in his final report – Essendon were more concerned about his religious affiliation than his record at the bank.
Thorburn resigned from the bank in 2019 after Hayne found he and then-NAB chairman Ken Henry failed to accept responsibility for an extensive rap sheet of unethical dealings, including charging customers fees for no service.
An examination of Thorburn’s five years as NAB boss also suggests that, whatever his personal view about homosexuality, he led an organisation that accommodated and promoted diversity of sexuality.
During his time in charge of the bank, the NAB sponsored the Midsumma Festival, the annual Pride March that Andrews leads, the first Pride match between St Kilda and Sydney, and what eventually became branded as the AFL’s Pride Round. The bank also supported the campaign for marriage equality.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and wife Catherine Andrews lead the annual Pride March.Credit: Penny Stephens
Some of Thorburn’s direct reports carried specially made business cards with rainbow motifs. Those who worked with Thorburn say his commitment to inclusion went beyond pink-washing.
“Whilst NAB CEO, Andrew made no secret of his Christian faith, but his personal religious beliefs never, ever interfered in any way with his running of the bank, nor with the bank’s public engagement on social issues,” Henry told The Age.
“Andrew modelled tolerance and inclusion throughout the bank.”
Thorburn is said to be shattered by the turn of events at Essendon. Club sources said that after he was brought in by Barham to help the club find its next CEO, Barham became convinced – and in turn convinced Thorburn – that he was the best candidate.
He was appointed on Monday, spoke at that night’s best and fairest count and was gone a day later. Essendon are now searching for a third chief executive in as many months, having already replaced the president and senior coach this year.
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.”
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