Reverend Leonard Santucci has slammed Home Affairs Minister Terry Lister for refusing to publicly defend Government's new hard-line policy on pulpit swapping vicars.

The controversy erupted when the Immigration Department threatened to arrest Holy Trinity reverend Alan Tilson when they found out he was about to take a service at St. Paul's Church in Paget which currently has no minister.

Mr. Lister was off the Island at that time but since returning last week has refused to explain the policy. Several calls from this newspaper have not been returned.

Mr. Santucci said: "The Minister is obliged to come clean and advise pastors of any such policy.

"For instance when there was a change to the process of publishing of banns in churches the Minister advised the clergy. Traditionally when there's a change in the process we are advised of the change."

He said no clergy he had spoken to were aware of any change in the policy which barred preachers on work permits from swapping pulpits without permission from Government.

"It's gone on since the beginning of time in Bermuda.

"The Minister owes Reverend Tilson an apology and the Anglican church an apology and pastors in general an apology because of the ruckus it's created and concern among the Christian community.

"It does tremendous damage to the diocese because guest worker clergy want to fulfil their calling to the people of Bermuda but they don't want to violate any law in the process of proclaiming God's holy word.

"They have been accused of engaging in illegal activity when there's no evidence any such law.

"We need some clear concise direction but I am not aware of any guidelines.

"I have made inquiries myself within the legal fraternity but there appears to be no violation of law in these situations.

"If there is an immigration statute that Rev. Tilson has violated we need to be acquainted with it to be sure we don't put other persons in similar positions.

"Playing hide and seek is not a way to run a ministry or a country. It is too late in the day for the minister to engage in this type of behaviour.

"This administration is riddled with that type of behaviour."

The arrest threat to Rev. Tilson led Bishop Ewan Ratteray to liken the situation to Nazi Germany. And he threatened to ignore the new policy after saying Government had overstepped its bounds.