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| Sacked Christian magistrate Richard Page suspended from Kent NHS trust | Sacked Christian magistrate Richard Page suspended from Kent NHS trust |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Christian magistrate who was sacked over comments he made on television against same-sex adoption has been suspended by an NHS trust. | |
| Richard Page was struck off after he told the BBC it would be better for a man and a woman to adopt. | Richard Page was struck off after he told the BBC it would be better for a man and a woman to adopt. |
| He has been suspended as non-executive director by Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT). | He has been suspended as non-executive director by Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT). |
| Mr Page said it was no longer possible to be a Christian and maintain a role in public life. | Mr Page said it was no longer possible to be a Christian and maintain a role in public life. |
| KMPT chairman Andrew Ling wrote to the NHS Trust Development Authority (TDA) requesting the suspension. | KMPT chairman Andrew Ling wrote to the NHS Trust Development Authority (TDA) requesting the suspension. |
| 'Challenge stigma' | 'Challenge stigma' |
| He said Mr Page's comments and continuance as a trust member would have a major impact on staff and patients, particularly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) staff. | He said Mr Page's comments and continuance as a trust member would have a major impact on staff and patients, particularly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) staff. |
| He said: "Links between the stigma often associated with being LGBT and poor mental health are well-established. | He said: "Links between the stigma often associated with being LGBT and poor mental health are well-established. |
| "It is vital that patients and local population are confident that KMPT will challenge stigma or discrimination." | "It is vital that patients and local population are confident that KMPT will challenge stigma or discrimination." |
| The TDA said it had suspended Mr Page with immediate effect pending a decision on whether it is in the interests of the NHS to take further action and for him to remain in post. | The TDA said it had suspended Mr Page with immediate effect pending a decision on whether it is in the interests of the NHS to take further action and for him to remain in post. |
| But Mr Page, who worked in mental health for 20 years, said: "It would appear no longer possible to be a Christian, to state what the Bible actually says and what the Church has believed for 2,000 years, and maintain a role in public life in today's Britain. | But Mr Page, who worked in mental health for 20 years, said: "It would appear no longer possible to be a Christian, to state what the Bible actually says and what the Church has believed for 2,000 years, and maintain a role in public life in today's Britain. |
| "My seat on the NHS Trust came as a result of my long service in mental health and total commitment to the NHS - none of that has changed." | "My seat on the NHS Trust came as a result of my long service in mental health and total commitment to the NHS - none of that has changed." |
| He added: "What about treating my views, held by billions of Christians around the world, equally and fairly?" | He added: "What about treating my views, held by billions of Christians around the world, equally and fairly?" |
| Andrea Minichiello Williams, barrister and founder of the Christian Legal Centre, said Christians were being marginalised and removed from public life. | Andrea Minichiello Williams, barrister and founder of the Christian Legal Centre, said Christians were being marginalised and removed from public life. |
| Mr Page, from Ashford, said he would take legal action after being sacked as a magistrate. He had served in Maidstone and Sevenoaks. | Mr Page, from Ashford, said he would take legal action after being sacked as a magistrate. He had served in Maidstone and Sevenoaks. |