(Photo: The Christian Legal Centre)
In a significant legal battle, a Christian social worker has returned to the Court of Appeal to challenge perceived discrimination based on his religious beliefs. Felix Ngole, whose job offer was rescinded after an internet search revealed his views on marriage and sexuality, is contesting the decision to refer parts of his claim back to the same employment tribunal.
After being offered a position with the mental health charity Touchstone Leeds in 2022, Ngole’s offer was withdrawn following an online search that revealed his Christian views. Despite a subsequent interview, the offer was not reinstated, leading to a legal challenge.
The initial Employment Tribunal found that Touchstone discriminated against Ngole by withdrawing the offer but accepted the decision following the second interview. This was further complicated when the Employment Appeal Tribunal identified flaws in the original tribunal’s analysis and called for a re-examination.
Ngole is now appealing to prevent his case from returning to the same tribunal, arguing that the facts already establish direct discrimination. He seeks either a ruling from the Court of Appeal or a reconsideration by a different panel.
The appeal also questions whether employers can interrogate applicants about their beliefs and exclude them based on assumptions about their impact on others.
The Court of Appeal hearing is scheduled over two days at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, starting Monday.
Ngole expresses his determination to continue the appeal, stating, “I am grateful that the Employment Appeal Tribunal recognised serious flaws in the original judgment. But after years of litigation, it cannot be right to send me back to the same tribunal to fight the central issues all over again.”
Ngole, supported by the Christian Legal Centre (CLC), emphasizes the broader implications for Christian freedom, asserting that Christians should not be marginalized for their beliefs. Andrea Williams, CEO of the CLC, supports this stance, critiquing the extended litigation as unjust.
Williams states, “It is untenable for Christians to be told that their beliefs are protected in theory while employers remain free to interrogate, exclude or penalise them because someone might discover those beliefs and take offence.”
She warns that this could create an unofficial religious test for public professions, adding, “We hope the Court of Appeal will make clear that employers must not stereotype Christians, speculative offence cannot displace fundamental freedoms, and no one should be barred from work because they believe that marriage is the lifelong union of one man and one woman.”
Ngole’s case follows his 2019 Court of Appeal victory against the University of Sheffield, where he was reinstated into a social work course after being removed for expressing his beliefs on Facebook.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
