Religious Workforce Protection Act Paves the Way for Expanded Religious Freedom in America - Faith & Freedom News

The Religious Workforce Protection Act (RWPA) is generating widespread support from faith leaders and advocates as it promises to play a pivotal role in advancing the religious exercise of Americans. Highlighted in a recent letter to Congress by Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and Bishop Mark J. Seitz, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration, the Religious Workforce Protection Act is seen as a critical, bipartisan measure that will bring much-needed relief to communities across the United States.

Protecting America’s Faith Communities

In their letter to Congress, Archbishop Broglio and Bishop Seitz emphasized,

“We would not be able to serve our diverse flocks, which reflect the rich tapestry of our society overall, without the faithful men and women who come to serve through the Religious Worker Visa Program.”

The Religious Worker Visa Program plays an essential role in ensuring that religious institutions—including churches, hospitals, and schools—acquire the human capital necessary to carry out their spiritual and social missions. From providing Sacraments in rural parishes to offering linguistic and cultural expertise in diverse dioceses, the program supports critical ministry functions that many Americans rely on for their daily practice of faith.

Addressing the Visa Backlog Crisis

One of the key challenges that the Religious Workforce Protection Act seeks to address is the extensive delay in the employment-based, fourth preference (EB-4) visa category. Currently, individuals applying through the EB-4 category can face waits of over a decade for permanent residency. This prolonged process forces religious workers, who are often already in the United States on an R-1 visa (typically limited to five years), to leave the country and abandon their ministries. The RWPA proposes to allow R-1 visa holders awaiting adjustment of status to remain in the country under renewable three-year extensions. This change would provide vital continuity for religious ministries and protect the rights of those serving America’s diverse faith communities.

A Critical Step Toward Religious Liberty

The bishops argued that the passage of the Religious Workforce Protection Act would not only secure the futures of individual religious workers but also promote the broader free exercise of religion in America. They warned that without this essential relief, countless American families may be unable to practice the basic tenets of their faith. Churches could go without essential personnel, hospitals might lose vital chaplaincy services, and educational institutions could suffer from a lack of trained instructors—all of which would undermine the social and spiritual fabric of society.

Bipartisan Support and Urgent Call to Congress

Commending the steadfast leadership of the RWPA’s cosponsors, Archbishop Broglio and Bishop Seitz called on all members of Congress to support this pivotal legislation. Their joint appeal underscores the urgency of the issue, stressing that the future of religious freedom in America depends on ensuring that the Religious Workforce Protection Act becomes law.

For more details, you can read the full letter on the USCCB website:
USCCB Letter on RWPA.

Conclusion

The Religious Workforce Protection Act represents an essential advancement in protecting the rights of foreign-born religious workers and sustaining the free exercise of religion across the United States. As America’s faith communities continue to diversify and expand, this legislation is a powerful step toward ensuring that ministries can flourish and that religious freedom is preserved for all.

By championing the Religious Workforce Protection Act, Congress has a historic opportunity to strengthen the backbone of America’s religious communities and secure a brighter, more inclusive future for all believers.