PASADENA, Calif. (AP) - Pasadena’s public health director was placed on paid administrative leave while the city completes an inquiry into video and audio statements posted online about evolution, homosexuality and other issues.
The city took the action on Thursday against Eric Walsh, a Seventh-day Adventist preacher, after the clips were posted on YouTube and other websites, the Pasadena Star-News reported (https://bit.ly/1mloPnV ).
The recordings described the theory of evolution as a satanic belief and criticized homosexuality as sinful, the newspaper said.
“Dr. Eric Walsh has been placed on temporary paid administrative leave to provide the city of Pasadena the opportunity to complete an inquiry into statements made by him in his private capacity and to assess the impact those statements might have on his ability to effectively lead the city’s Public Health Department,” City Manager Michael Beck said in a statement.
Walsh has been city health director since 2010. He has not responded to a request for comment by The Associated Press.
The sermons contrast with Walsh’s public speeches, according to the newspaper. In addresses in 2012, Walsh expressed support for Pasadena’s multicultural community and railed against discrimination.
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Information from: Pasadena Star-News, https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/
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