More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A former magistrate dismissed from the bench for his views on the adoption of children by gay couples has lost his appeal against the decision.
Richard Page, from Headcorn, was struck off and later relieved from the post of non-executive director of the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust after a decision made on an adoption case in 2014.
Mr Page, a Christian, dissented from the view of his colleagues on the bench when a same sex couple applied to adopt, saying that in his view it was in a child's best interests to be raised by a mother and a father.
Two years later he was sacked from the bench for "serious misconduct" by then Justice Secretary Michael Gove and Lord Thomas, who said his comments suggested he was "biased and prejudiced against single-sex adopters."
He then subsequently also lost his position with the NHS Trust for speaking to the media about his case, after an LGBT member of the NHS complained.
He then fought to have the decision overturned and permission to take his case against the Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice to the Employment Appeal Tribunal was granted in December 2018.
However, Mr Justice Choudhury today announced the decisions of the Employment Tribunal were upheld, ruling against his claims for discrimination and victimisation because of his Christian faith.
In a second judgment handed down this morning, the Employment Appeal Tribunal rejected Mr Page's case against the NHS Trust, saying that it was not Mr Page's belief but the fact that he expressed his belief that led to his removal.
The judge added that LGBT people suffer disproportionately from mental illness and might be dissuaded from using the trust's services because of the high profile coverage of Mr Page's beliefs.
Mr Page, who had been a magistrate on the Central Kent Bench covering Maidstone and Sevenoaks for 15 years, said: "I am deeply disappointed that the court has ruled that saying that a child will do better with a mother and a father is proper grounds for dismissal as a magistrate and as a director of an NHS trust.
"I'm also disappointed that Mr Justice Choudhury believes this viewpoint can be separated from my Christian faith.
"This shows that we are now living in a deeply intolerant society which cannot stand any dissent from politically correct views – even from judges.
"I hope that we can appeal this decision and restore freedom of speech across the country."
Andrea Minichiello Williams, chief executive of Christian Legal Centre, which represented Mr Page, added: "This case reveals frightening developments in our society.
"This shows that we are now living in a deeply intolerant society which cannot stand any dissent from politically correct views - even from judges" - Richard Page
"The judgment demonstrates a total lack of understanding of what it means to be Christian and what it means to live out your faith in the public sphere.
"But even more disturbing is the suggestion that simply holding the belief is sufficient to constitute a breach of his judicial oath.
"If upheld, this rules out conscientious, informed Christians from holding judicial positions.
"Richard Page only wanted to do what was best for the child - the 'gold standard' for cases involving the welfare of a child.
"For expressing his well-founded belief that a child will do better with a mother and a father he has been unfairly dismissed and ruled out of public life.
"This ruling is a serious infringement of the freedom of Christians to express their views, showing a deep intolerance for Christians who are prepared to say what they believe in public life.
"History will look back on this judgment with dismay at the judiciary's ignorance of and intolerance towards Christian beliefs."
