“Utter disbelief”: Wallabies player’s mother involved in Israel Folau scandal
Wallabies players are said to be in “utter disbelief” after a mother of young Wallabies star Jordan Petaia has admitted to “infiltrating” Israel Folau’s church.
Helen Petaia confessed to The Herald Sun that she was the anonymous parent who had gone undercover in Folau’s church to learn more about it.
She explained that she became concerned when Folau started inviting players to the church that was set up by his father Eni in 2013. The church is called the Truth of Jesus Christ Church.
"I honestly do not want my son involved in what I have come to understand is false teachings and counterfeit Christianity,” she told The Herald.
Helen explained that it “disturbed her greatly” after deciding to attend the church for herself.
“I’ve gone, I’ve checked it out and I would call them an isolated hate group.”
However, her actions might have had the opposite effect as the Wallabies camp has sent a flood of messages of support for Folau.
According to The Australian, “many of the messages expressed players’ disappointment and ‘utter disbelief’ that Petaia’s mother had gone to such ‘extreme lengths’, going to the media to warn of Folau’s religious beliefs and her concerns about his influence on young rugby players.”
Helen has since spoken out about the controversy, saying that Folau’s father Eni has said that she’s “going to hell”.
“I have no doubt many Christian parents would be concerned if their child was to become entangled in the false teachings and religious practices Israel Folau endorses,” she told The Daily Telegraph.
“There are many Christian leaders who agree with my assessment of the Folau church.”