A Leeds mental health charity has been branded discriminatory after it pulled a job offer from a Christian social worker because of his traditional views on marriage and sexuality. An employment appeal tribunal has now slammed the charity, overturning an earlier ruling that had backed the employer.
Job Offer Withdrawn Over ‘Triggering’ Bible Quotes
Felix Ngole, 47, was set to join Touchstone, a Leeds-based mental health and NHS provider. But when Touchstone unearthed his past public statements supporting traditional Christian views on marriage and sexuality, it cancelled his job offer.
Touchstone claimed Ngole’s views could upset LGBTQI+ service users who might stumble across his beliefs online. Dave Pickard, their head of operations, argued that even quoting John 3:16 could be “triggering” for vulnerable clients. Stonewall, a well-known LGBT campaign group, backed these claims.
This isn’t Ngole’s first courtroom victory. In 2019, he won a landmark free speech battle against the University of Sheffield after being expelled over Facebook posts defending biblical sexual ethics. The Court of Appeal ruled that expressing religious views on sin didn’t equal discrimination.
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Touchstone reportedly withdrew his job offer after realising Ngole had won that earlier case, adding fuel to the controversy.
The Christian Legal Centre hailed Monday’s ruling as a “significant win for Christian freedom and free speech,” warning it could reshape how employers treat staff whose religious beliefs are online.
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With parts of his claim still unresolved, and further appeals planned, look set for more courtroom drama to come.
