The United Bermuda Party is pushing to end immigration restrictions stopping rectors on work permits from preaching in churches other than their own.

The Anglican Church reacted with anger last year when Immigration officers threatened to arrest expatriate Minister Alan Tilson when he tried to fill in at St. Paul?s in Paget, which did not have a priest.

Anglican Bishop Ewan Ratteray described the threat at the time as reminiscent of Nazi Germany.

UBP MP Wayne Furbert yesterday tabled a motion in the House of Assembly to end the restrictions and keep the Immigration Department out of the affairs of religious organisations.

He said he hoped Government would realise how offensive it was for Immigration to stop clerics preaching the word in other churches or organisations if invited, and he hoped the Progressive Labour Party would support his motion.

?There are certain ministers who have a calling, a message to give to people, and it is important that if they are asked to preach at another church or organisation, they should be allowed to follow their calling from God,? Mr. Furbert told.

?The ludicrous part of it is that even within their own organisation, for example, a New Testament Church of God minister on a work permit would not even be allowed to speak in another New Testament church.

?I am hoping the Government will understand the dilemma and the importance of churches being left alone to preach the word.

?(After the row last year) we hoped the Ministry would come up with another policy but it was never made clear.

?We feel that ministers, regardless of their religion or organisation, should be allowed to speak within their own organisations, or to another organisation if asked, without interference from the Immigration Department.?

Mr. Furbert, the shadow Housing Minister, said he decided to table the motion after hearing New Testament Church of God pastor Goodwin Smith speak passionately against this last Saturday.

He said he hoped after the row last year that Government would have introduced new guidelines to clarify the issue, but nothing had been brought forward.

The row erupted last April when St. Paul?s overlooked Bermudian Carl Williams for rector and wanted to appoint a Canadian.

In the meantime, Father Tilson was preparing to step in to preach when he was issued the arrest threat.

Former Labour and Home Affairs Minister Terry Lister said at the time that rectors were able to swap pulpits for special occasions, despite a pronouncement that they would need permission to do so.

And he defended Government?s decision not to issue a work permit to a foreign cleric if they continued to overlook Mr. Williams.