'I was accused of giving my opinion' - Christian teaching assistant shares views of Bible and is met with disciplinary action

'I was intimidated...I felt like a criminal...'

Christian teaching assistant, Victoria Allen was asked about same-sex marriage by a student. When she gave her opinion, the school took immediate disciplinary action.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Allen was approached by the 14-year-old student during an English class. She was asked her opinion on same-sex marriage and chose to give an honest answer.

"If a child asks for my personal opinion, I feel I should be able to give it," Allen explained.

As a Christian, Allen shared she is opposed to same-sex unions. The conversation concluded and she believed that was the end of it.

Though the boy was not offended by Allen's answer, his mother decided to lodge a complaint, leading the Brannel Scool in St. Austell - in the UK - to launch formal disciplinary actions for violating equal opportunity policies.

Allen admitted employees are told to share "balanced views" but the swift response from the school made her "feel like a criminal" for sharing "personal, biblical beliefs."

The situation escalated from there, with Allen taking the incident to Bodmin Magistrates Court with help from Libby Powell, of the Christian Legal Centre, who supported Allen's claim and defended her right to freely express her views on the Christian faith.

Allen stated: "I was asked a question from a student and I gave my answer based on my beliefs and I was disciplined for it.

"I was not suspended - I was given a written warning. I was intimidated, not motivated. I felt like a criminal and I didn't do anything wrong.

"I was accused of giving my opinion on my biblical beliefs, I guess."

Powell explained: "Vicky was asked a question about her personal opinion. We know that there are lots of people who disagree with the biblical view of marriage and they are free to disagree. What we want to say is that there has to be space for the other point of view."

Allen spoke outside court before the civil proceedings began to say, "I want an apology and the written warning to be removed from my records as well as financial compensation."

Powell explained Christians are constantly facing abuse because they do not agree with many worldly practices - losing their religious freedoms amid a call for everyone to submit to the majority opinion.

"We are dealing with this every week - week in, week out - we are getting calls from Christians from a variety of different situations," Powell explained.

"Christians who finding difficulties because they've spoken up, taken a certain action, not done a certain thing because of their Christian faith. We're busier than ever.

"Vicky's message is very clear, she is taking a stand because she doesn't want other Christians to be in the same position.

"Many of the people we have supported have taken the position on same-sex marriage that it's not biblical, it's not what God says is the best way for humans to flourish.

"That's our position, that's why we stand with Christians."

Following the court hearing, a joint statement from Allen and the school's head teacher, Andy Edmonds, claimed the situation has been resolved.

"Victoria Allen and the Governing Body of Brannel School are pleased to announce that the employment dispute between Victoria Allen and Brannel School is now concluded.

"The parties accept that some people have deeply held views about the nature of marriage, and that every individual has the freedom to express these in accordance with the law.

"The school also respects that Victoria Allen's view that marriage should be between a man and a woman is sincerely held and shared by many others."

The school confirmed Allen will resume her work as a high-level teaching assistant and apologized for "any upset that Victoria Allen may have felt during the disciplinary process" but did not release any details of compensation.

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'

Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online