Dear Friends,
The 38-year-old student and father of four, Felix Ngole, has recently been
expelled from his course
of study by the University of Sheffield because of a Facebook post he shared
which expressed his disagreement with
same-sex “marriage”.
Felix made the comments last September on his facebook page in relation to
Kim Davis, the marriage clerk from Kentucky who refused to issue a marriage
licence to a same-sex couple. He defended her freedom of conscience and in the
course of discussion expressed his view on the Bible’s teaching on sexual
ethics.
This is not about equality and not about same-sex marriage either. It
is about our fundamental right to the free expression of our views without fear
of censorship or discrimination from academic institutions or the
state.
Sign this petition to the Minister for Universities and Science, Jo Johnson
MP, asking him to see that the freedom of speech at university is upheld and
asking him to use his influence to see the University of Sheffield's decision
reversed.
http://www.citizengo.org/en/pc/33353-student-expelled-expressing-wrong-opinions
At a subsequent “Fitness to Practice Committee”, Felix was told that he had
been “excluded from further study on a programme leading to a professional
qualification" and is "no longer recognised as a University student." Their
reasoning: he “
may have caused offence to some individuals” and
had “
transgressed boundaries which are not deemed appropriate for
someone entering the Social Work profession.” They went on to say that
his action would have has an effect on his “ability to carry out a role as a
Social Worker.”
Felix has in fact worked with people in same-sex relationships in the
past and there have been no issues, something which the university has
apparently entirely ignored.
In short then,
Mr Ngole made a comment on his personal facebook page
which expressed an opinion deemed inappropriate of someone preparing to enter
into social work and his studies were terminated.
Sign this petition to the Minister for Universities and Science, asking him
to use his authority and influence to end the censoring of students’
views.
http://www.citizengo.org/en/pc/33353-student-expelled-expressing-wrong-opinions
Apparently, being qualified
to do your job or complete the course requirements is not enough – equally as
important is that you think the “right” way and hold the “correct” opinions.
Which, in this case, means that you support same-sex “marriage” and reject
mainstream Christian belief.
Felix said he is “determined to challenge the decision because of its wider
consequences and the huge issues of freedom of religion and freedom of
expression that it raises.”
“My beliefs about marriage and sexual ethics reflect mainstream, biblical
understanding, shared by millions around the world. Simply expressing that
understanding, in a personal capacity, on my Facebook page, cannot be allowed to
become a bar to serving and helping others in a professional capacity as a
social worker.”
This kind of censoring of
traditional views of marriage and the family cannot
continue.
Yours sincerely,
Greg Jackson and the entire Team at CitizenGO
PS Freedom of speech has come under attack at university a lot recently with
students who hold pro-life views and traditional understandings of marriage most
frequently being silenced. But university is precisely the time when all these
views should be debated, when we should have our most cherished beliefs
scrutinised and laid bare. Only then can we know if they are worth having.
This is not an equality issue,
but an issue of basic freedoms – the freedom to pursue and express the truth as
we see it. Sign this petition to end censorship at
university.
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