Rev Dr Patrick Pullicino. Photo: The Christian Legal Centre A Maltese Catholic priest who served as a chaplain in a London hospital received £10,000 (€11,396) in a settlement with the United Kingdom’s National Health Service after he alleged he was fired for expressing the Church’s teaching on homosexuality.
Fr Patrick Pullicino, who is also a medical doctor, sued the London NHS Trust for harassment, religious discrimination, and victimisation.
“There is a tendency throughout the NHS to force their patients to accept generic ‘spiritual’ care instead of giving support for their Christian beliefs,” Fr Pullicino said in a statement, according to a news release from the Christian Legal Centre, which represented him in court.
“Christian faith is particularly important in sickness, particularly when in danger of death,” Fr Pullicino continued. “Limiting this is inhumane, in addition to being outside the law. Good, religion-specific chaplaincy support is under threat in the NHS but is essential in all hospitals. A government inquiry is urgently needed into restoring hospital chaplaincy to its rightful place.”
Although the NHS has denied the allegations, it awarded the settlement “for perceived injury to feelings”.