Christian who was booted from university for his Biblical views on homosexuality wins right to challenge dismissal

A Christian student, who was expelled from a university course in Britain for expressing his Biblical views about homosexuality, has won the legal right to challenge his dismissal in court.

Felix Ngole, a 39-year-old social work student at Sheffield University, was removed from the course in February last year after he took part in a Facebook debate in which he stated that "the Bible and God identify homosexuality as a sin."

The student is challenging the university's decision, and he has won the right to a judicial review in a preliminary hearing at Britain's High Court, The Telegraph reported.

Ngole, who also worked as a religious education teacher, is claiming that he was unfairly blocked by the school from completing the course. He is believed to be the first to challenge a decision that considered him "unfit to practice" a profession because of his religious beliefs.

The University's Fitness to Practise committee said that the student was booted from the course because his actions were not deemed appropriate for someone entering the Social Work profession.

Andrea Minichiello Williams, chief executive of Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting Ngole in his case, said that the result was a victory for free speech.

"The idea that someone could be expelled from a social work course for expressing a view in a Facebook post and then declared not fit to practice is very detrimental to free speech," Williams stated.

"Students with orthodox Christian views are being told that they aren't fit to practice. For religious people who believe now what most people used to believe, it can be a bar to office," she went on to say.

Barrister Sarah Hannett, who represents the university, said that the views expressed by Ngole on Facebook are "likely to undermine the trust and confidence that lesbian, gay and bisexual clients are entitled to have in his professional role as a social worker."

Hannett also stated that the problem was not that the student held such views, but the manner in which he expressed them.

Williams has previously noted that Ngole has worked with homosexuals in the past, and he has treated them with respect. She contended that there is no evidence that student's Biblical views had any negative impact on his work.

Lawyers asserted that the case could affect other professionals who were prevented from obtaining work or qualifications due to their religious beliefs. The High Court is scheduled to hear the full case later this year.