Religious workers need protection, support

Religious workers deserve protection, dignity and freedom to serve in ministry. Pastors, chaplains, lay leaders, faith-based social service providers, offer critical spiritual and humanitarian care in neighborhoods across the U.S.

It is increasingly more difficult to provide ministry because of the many obstacles international religious workers confront, including visa delays and denials for noncitizen religious leaders, gaps in legal protection against discrimination in public service and insecurity in employment and housing due to unjust or outdated immigration policies.

The Religious Workforce Protection Act (H.R. 2672 / S. 1298) in the 119th Congress is a critical step in ensuring fair treatment, protection and dignity for religious workers who serve our communities with compassion and spiritual leadership. The act would streamline and protect visa pathways for international religious workers, safeguard religious workers from employment discrimination, support underserved communities reliant on faith-based care and leadership and uphold religious liberty and affirm the moral contributions of faith communities.

Act now to let your congressional leaders know we believe religious workers deserve protection, dignity, and freedom to serve in ministry. Tell Congress to Support the Religious Workforce Protection Act (2025)—H.R.

A.F. Benson

Aurora