Pro-family Christian magistrate falls foul of PC rules

A CHRISTIAN magistrate has been disciplined by a Tory Cabinet Minister for saying that children should be raised by both a mother and a father.

Richard Page told colleagues behind closed doors during an adoption case that he thought it would be better for a child to be brought up in a traditional family rather than by a gay couple.

He was shocked a week later when he found he had been reported to the judges’ watchdog for alleged prejudice and was suspended from sitting on family court cases.

Mr Page, an experienced NHS manager, has now been found guilty of serious misconduct by Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling.

He has also been ordered to go on an equality course before he can return to the courtroom.

The married 68-year-old was told he had broken the oath sworn by all Justices of the Peace, as well as Labour’s controversial Equality Act, by being guided by his religious

‘They just think he’s prejudiced’

views and discriminating against the same-sex adoptive parents.

Mr Page said: ‘There is tremendous pressure to keep quiet and go along with what is seen to be politically correct. Everyone else seems to be allowed to stand up for their beliefs except for Christians.’

Mr Page was called on to consider an adoption order at a family court last July. After hearing evidence, he joined fellow magistrates in another room to discuss the case. It was at that point that he expressed his views.

A short statement published by the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office states Mr Page has been given a reprimand for having been ‘influenced by his religious beliefs and not by the evidence’, which amounted to ‘serious misconduct’.

Andrea Williams, of pressure group Christian Concern said: ‘There’s no understanding that he could be acting out of compassion for a child. They just think that he’s prejudiced.’