Christian Educator Sacked for Biblical Beliefs: Shocking Lawsuit Against Catholic School Sparks Outrage
In a startling legal battle, a Christian social media influencer and education specialist is suing St Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls in North London, alleging she was fired for upholding Biblical views on marriage.
Gozen Soydag, 37, from Enfield, claims she was dismissed from her role as a pastoral manager at the school after sharing posts promoting traditional marriage and the nuclear family on her Instagram accounts. Soydag, who boasts over 30,000 followers under handles like @wifeinthewaiting, described her termination as a “devastating attack on my faith and freedom of expression.”
The dismissal followed a complaint from a parent who reportedly took issue with Soydag’s social media activity. Despite removing the contentious posts, Soydag was allegedly told her views were “incompatible with the school’s ethos.”
“Fired on Her Birthday Without a Hearing”
According to Soydag, her termination in February 2023 occurred on her birthday, without any prior opportunity to defend her beliefs. She also claims the school failed to provide a formal written contract, a breach of the Employment Rights Act 1996.
“I was never asked to explain my position,” Soydag said. “I am deeply hurt and confused as to how my beliefs—grounded in love and respect—could be deemed unacceptable at a Catholic school.”
Her case, supported by the Christian Legal Centre, accuses the school of wrongful dismissal, harassment, discrimination, and breaching her human rights. Soydag is also seeking damages and a declaration under the Equality Act 2010.
Praise Turned Into Punishment
Before her dismissal, Soydag had been praised for her work mentoring students in a challenging part of London. She argues that her social media posts were never directed at the school community but were meant to encourage women outside the workplace.
“It’s shocking that a school, particularly a Catholic one, would penalize someone for upholding beliefs that align with the Bible,” said Tim Dieppe of the Christian Legal Centre. He added that the case exposes a troubling double standard: “Would a person of another faith have been treated the same way? It’s hard to believe they would.”
A Crisis of Identity for Catholic Education?
Critics are questioning how a Catholic institution could dismiss an employee for championing Biblical principles. Soydag’s case has ignited a firestorm of debate about freedom of religion and expression in the workplace, with many seeing it as a test case for Christian rights in the UK.
St Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls has yet to comment on the allegations. However, the case underscores a growing tension between personal convictions and professional expectations in educational settings.
As Soydag prepares to take her fight to court, the outcome could set a precedent for how faith-based views are treated in public and private institutions alike. “This is not just about me,” Soydag said. “It’s about ensuring that people of faith are not silenced or punished for living out their beliefs.”
The lawsuit has drawn widespread attention, with Christian advocacy groups warning that the case highlights an alarming erosion of religious freedoms in modern Britain.
