Religious Workforce Protection Act gains support from U.S. bishops and lawmakers

The U.S. bishops have expressed support for a bipartisan legislative proposal aimed at easing immigration restrictions on religious workers entering the United States. The Religious Workforce Protection Act, introduced by Senators Susan Collins, Tim Kaine, and Jim Risch, and Representatives Mike Carey and Richard Neal, seeks to enable these workers to remain in the country while awaiting permanent residency. The lawmakers behind the bill are all professed Catholics.

Collins highlighted the urgency of the issue, mentioning, "When Maine parishes where I attend Mass started losing their priests, I saw this issue creating a real crisis in our state." She recounted how three parishes in rural Maine faced priest shortages when visas expired before permanent residency applications were processed.

According to a 2022 study from The Catholic University of America's Catholic Project, 24% of priests serving in the U.S. are foreign-born. These individuals face challenges due to visa renewal processes, affecting their ability to serve communities fully.

The proposed legislation is designed to assist religious workers of various faiths. "Our bill would help religious workers...continue to live and serve here," Collins said, referencing the community impact of local religious organizations.

Senator Kaine also expressed concern about the broader effects of the problem, noting its impact on congregations across the nation, not just in Virginia. "I first started hearing about churches losing trusted priests through my parish," he said.

Several religious leaders, including Bishops Mark J. Seitz, Barry C. Knestout, James T. Ruggieri, and Earl K. Fernandes, have expressed similar support for the legislation. These leaders, along with representatives from other faiths, see this act as vital for maintaining religious services nationwide.

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio and Bishop Seitz have actively encouraged Congress to pass the legislation, emphasizing its importance for allowing foreign-born religious workers to continue contributing to U.S. communities. They pointed out that many regions and immigrant populations lean heavily on these workers for their "linguistic and cultural expertise."

A letter from the bishops stated, "Some parishes, especially those in rural or isolated areas, would go without regular access to the sacraments, if not for these religious workers." They further warned that without the bill, numerous essential services, including hospital chaplaincies and educational roles, might suffer from a lack of staff, affecting the ability of American families to practice their faith.

The U.S. bishops are calling for swift legislative action to ensure the continued exercise of religious freedom and the ongoing delivery of essential services by supporting the integration of foreign-born religious workers into American life.

Kate Scanlon is a national reporter for OSV News, covering developments from Washington.

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