Immaculate Conception Church

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH

Leading People to Jesus Through Worship, Community, Service, and Devotion to Mary

414 E. North Broadway, Columbus, OH 43214

On April 9, 2025, several U.S. Representatives introduced the Religious Workforce Protection Act, bipartisan legislation to allow religious workers on temporary R-1 status with pending EB-4 applications to stay in the U.S. while waiting for permanent residency. The bill aims to address delays in processing EB-4 applications, which can force religious workers to return to their home countries, disrupting services provided by religious institutions. The Religious Workforce Protection Act would allow religious workers to extend their temporary R-1 status, enabling them to continue essential services in American communities.

There is an equivalent bill in the U.S. Senate.

In the Diocese of Columbus, there are 21 priests and 13 sisters who would be impacted. Three seminarians are presently on F-1 student visas, but upon ordination would need to be transferred to an R-1 visa and would also be impacted. The impact on diocesan parishes, schools, and Catholic healthcare ministry would be significant.

Bishop Fernandes has worked hard to help promote this legislation for more than two years. He has spoken to VP Vance, Senator Moreno, and Congressman Carey about this matter. In describing the urgency of the matter, Bishop Fernandes said, “If this bill does not pass, we will lose our foreign national clergy, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. We cannot afford to lose these priests, deacons, and religious from our parishes, schools, and hospitals.  If I could emphasize the urgency of this with any greater force I would. Our brothers help us in providing access to the sacraments across the Diocese of Columbus.”

Bishop encourages parishioners to write to their congressional representatives and senators to support this bill. 

This is a good opportunity for Catholics and people of good will to mobilize to support priests and religious. For questions regarding the appropriateness of the Church’s involvement in promoting the RWPA, you may visit Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.