Summer Supply Clergy
A change in the law now prevents ‘Ministers of Religion’ from entering the country using a Tier 5 visa.
The bishops of Scotland have written a joint letter to the Immigration Minister expressing their concerns. However, there is no indication that the government is going to change its position. This will have a significant impact on parishes, especially during the summer months, as many priests have relied for many years on migrant clergy for a summer supply. It will also impact on the visiting priests themselves who, in many cases, depend on their summer placements to boost their income and contribute to their fees, as many of them are undergoing further studies.
This year, as it will not be possible to bring any visiting clergy from outside the EEA into parishes, the archdiocese has advised that summer Mass Schedules may have to be put in place, allowing clergy to support one another in order to get the time off that they need. Discussion about this is due to take place as a matter of urgency at the level of deanery and cluster.
All priests and parishioners are being urged to write to their MP expressing their concerns about the changes. See below the message from the Catholic Parliamentary Office followed by a style of letter that you may wish to use.
The bishops of Scotland have written a joint letter to the Immigration Minister expressing their concerns. However, there is no indication that the government is going to change its position. This will have a significant impact on parishes, especially during the summer months, as many priests have relied for many years on migrant clergy for a summer supply. It will also impact on the visiting priests themselves who, in many cases, depend on their summer placements to boost their income and contribute to their fees, as many of them are undergoing further studies.
This year, as it will not be possible to bring any visiting clergy from outside the EEA into parishes, the archdiocese has advised that summer Mass Schedules may have to be put in place, allowing clergy to support one another in order to get the time off that they need. Discussion about this is due to take place as a matter of urgency at the level of deanery and cluster.
All priests and parishioners are being urged to write to their MP expressing their concerns about the changes. See below the message from the Catholic Parliamentary Office followed by a style of letter that you may wish to use.
Dear Parishioner,
The UK Government is changing the visa route for supply-placement priests, making the process more costly and difficult.
You will appreciate the effect this might have on your parish and the local community.
The Bishops of Scotland and the Bishops of England & Wales have written to the Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes expressing their deep concerns about the changes. However, there is no indication that the government is going to change its position.
I would be grateful if you would write to your local MP to raise your own concerns about the changes. Below is a style letter you can use, but I would encourage you to use your own words as far as possible. You can find details of your local MP by using this tool (just enter your postcode): https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/
Please forward to me any responses you receive from your MP.
Kind regards,
Anthony Horan
Director
Catholic Parliamentary Office
The UK Government is changing the visa route for supply-placement priests, making the process more costly and difficult.
You will appreciate the effect this might have on your parish and the local community.
The Bishops of Scotland and the Bishops of England & Wales have written to the Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes expressing their deep concerns about the changes. However, there is no indication that the government is going to change its position.
I would be grateful if you would write to your local MP to raise your own concerns about the changes. Below is a style letter you can use, but I would encourage you to use your own words as far as possible. You can find details of your local MP by using this tool (just enter your postcode): https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/
Please forward to me any responses you receive from your MP.
Kind regards,
Anthony Horan
Director
Catholic Parliamentary Office
Dear [INSERT MP NAME]
Immigration Rules
I refer to the statement of changes in immigration rules made on 6th December 2018 by Caroline Nokes, the Minister for Immigration.
I’m writing as parishioner of [INSERT PARISH NAME] to request your support regarding recent changes to visa guidelines that will have a significant impact on Catholic priests coming into the UK.
Most Catholic dioceses have regularly used the Tier 5 Religious Worker visa route for priests to come here on supply-placements, while parish priests are away for short periods of time (such as for holidays, visits or retreats). These supply-placements are essential as they allow Catholics to continue attending Mass and receiving sacraments, while also keeping parish activities running smoothly; activities which benefit the whole community. My own parish has benefited from supply-placements in the past.
Under new guidance, priests on supply-placements will be required to use the Tier 2 Minister of Religion visa route. This will more than double the costs incurred by parishes, making supply-cover effectively unaffordable for some of those in poorer communities.
The Tier 2 Minister of Religion visa route also imposes strict language requirements. Even priests who have undertaken seminary formation in English may be required to sit an English language test before coming on supply-placements. This will have both practical and financial implications.
As I’m sure you will appreciate these changes are raising considerable concern in Catholic communities across the UK, including my own. I would be extremely grateful if you would raise this matter with the UK Government so that a reasonable solution can be found.
Yours sincerely
[INSERT NAME]
Immigration Rules
I refer to the statement of changes in immigration rules made on 6th December 2018 by Caroline Nokes, the Minister for Immigration.
I’m writing as parishioner of [INSERT PARISH NAME] to request your support regarding recent changes to visa guidelines that will have a significant impact on Catholic priests coming into the UK.
Most Catholic dioceses have regularly used the Tier 5 Religious Worker visa route for priests to come here on supply-placements, while parish priests are away for short periods of time (such as for holidays, visits or retreats). These supply-placements are essential as they allow Catholics to continue attending Mass and receiving sacraments, while also keeping parish activities running smoothly; activities which benefit the whole community. My own parish has benefited from supply-placements in the past.
Under new guidance, priests on supply-placements will be required to use the Tier 2 Minister of Religion visa route. This will more than double the costs incurred by parishes, making supply-cover effectively unaffordable for some of those in poorer communities.
The Tier 2 Minister of Religion visa route also imposes strict language requirements. Even priests who have undertaken seminary formation in English may be required to sit an English language test before coming on supply-placements. This will have both practical and financial implications.
As I’m sure you will appreciate these changes are raising considerable concern in Catholic communities across the UK, including my own. I would be extremely grateful if you would raise this matter with the UK Government so that a reasonable solution can be found.
Yours sincerely
[INSERT NAME]