Guidelines for Receiving Pastoral Ministers in the USA

Contents

Abbreviations and Acronyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi Religious Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi US Legal and Governmental Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi

INTRODUCTION

I. Historical Perspective and Current Situation . . . . . . . . . . A-1 II. Theological Framework: Understanding the Exchange of International Pastoral Ministers: The Context of Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1 III. Grace and Challenge: Understanding the Graces and Challenges in the Exchange of International Pastoral Ministers . . . . . . . . . . . A-3 Graces for the Receiving Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3 Challenges for Receiving Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4 Graces for International Pastoral Ministers . . . . . . . . . . . A-4 Challenges for International Pastoral Ministers . . . . . . . . . . A-5 IV. Purpose, Scope, and Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-5 PART I ASSESSMENT AND ACCEPTANCE Canon Law Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1 Determination of an Ecclesial Need . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1 Initiating a Formal Process for Priests and Deacons . . . . . . . . . B-2 Establishing a Personnel File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2 Written Agreement on the Terms of Service . . . . . . . . . . B-3 Incardination/Ascription . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-4 Case Study 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-5 Special Consideration for Married Eastern Catholic Priests . . . . . . . B-5 Special Considerations for Seminarians . . . . . . . . . . . . B-5 Additional Considerations for Members of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-6 Individual Member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-6 A House or Community of an Institute or Society . . . . . . . . . B-6 Case Study 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-7 Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . B-7 Civil Law Considerations—Immigration Law . . . . . . . . . . . C-1 A. Receiving Religious Workers and Students . . . . . . . . . . C-1 B. Types of Visas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-2 C. Application Procedures for Religious Workers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-3 D. Foreign Student Visas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-4 E. Considerations and Potential Problems . . . . . . . . . . . C-6

Case Study 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-8 Case Study 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-9 Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . C-9

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