A CHRISTIAN social worker from Barnsley who previously won a free speech case over his views on same-sex marriage has won yet another ruling after he was denied employment due to his religious beliefs.

Felix Ngole, supported by the Christian Legal Centre, won a case against the University of Sheffield back in 2019.

He had posted ‘homosexuality is a sin’ as part of a discussion thread on a Facebook post in 2015 and had argued university bosses unfairly threw him off the course after a committee was required to consider his fitness to practise as a social worker.

The decision was upheld by the university appeals committee but he won the right to mount a High Court challenge.

Last October, he began a case at the Employment Appeal Tribunal in London, appealing a decision by the Leeds Employment Tribunal which upheld the withdrawal of a job offer by mental health charity Touchstone Leeds.

The charity rescinded its offer after discovering Felix’s past public statements affirming and debating Biblical teaching on marriage, which it claimed were incompatible with its values and posed a risk to LGBTQI+ service users.

Despite acknowledging that Felix’s views were rooted in his Christian faith, the tribunal ruled that Touchstone’s decision was justified due to concerns about reputational damage and the mental health impact on service users who might discover his beliefs online.

Employment judge Jonathan Brain ruled that Ngole was discriminated against when his job offer was withdrawn due to his expression of religious beliefs.

However he ruled that the charity was justified in not reinstating the job offer, citing ‘safeguarding concerns’ for LGBTQI+ service users.

He won the appeal earlier this week.

The ruling confirmed that Felix’s belief in Christian marriage could not be capable of justifying the need for a second interview, which had led to the refusal to reinstate the job offer.

Felix said: “I am pleased to see the Employment Appeal Tribunal recognise that I should not have been refused this job solely because people might discover my mainstream Christian beliefs online.

“However, I am frustrated that the case has been sent back to the employment tribunal.

“I have supported vulnerable individuals from all backgrounds throughout my professional life, and I have never sought to impose my beliefs on anyone.”

Felix confirmed that he intends to pursue a further appeal to the Court of Appeal on the aspects of the decision with which he disagrees, and he looks forward to the court providing clarity on the proper protection of freedom of religion and expression in the workplace.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, added: “We will continue to support Felix as he seeks full justice.

“Felix should not have been asked to come back for a second interview and should have won the original trial and subsequent appeal outright - Felix had the job withdrawn and was given a hard time in the second interview for one reason only - his views on Christian marriage which his employer found offensive.

“Prolonging this case simply adds to the mistreatment of Felix.

“Hasn’t he been through enough already?

“No one should be penalised for affirming Biblical marriage - a lifelong union of a man and a woman.

“The courts need to send the clear message - Christian beliefs are welcome in this society and no employer can mistreat an employee because of their biblical beliefs.”