‘I was sacked for sharing my Catholic faith with a patient who asked my opinion on same-sex marriage’

The Catholic hospital chaplain Fr Patrick Pullicino was fired after expressing his views on same-sex marriage. After winning compensation from an NHS trust, he believes Christians must pray and campaign for their freedoms to be respected

Prior to becoming a chaplain, I had worked in the NHS for 20 years as a consultant and professor of clinical neuroscience. After I retired, I felt a call to the priesthood and, by the grace of God, was ordained in 2019.

I was assigned to Springfield University Hospital, part of the South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, as a part time chaplain, working two afternoons a week. Patients immediately started asking for Confession, and I set up a weekly Communion service. I also started to say Masses in the chaplaincy and established a Bible study group on a ward.