Threats of arrest hanging over expatriate "pulpit swapping" priests threaten to cast a shadow over Easter celebrations, religious leaders agreed yesterday.

Immigration recently said work permit vicars were forbidden from preaching in other churches without permission but the practice is common during the anniversary of Christ's rising.

But Bishop of Bermuda Ewan Ratteray said the issue needed clarification and Government was stepping out of its bounds.

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

Yesterday Bishop Ratteray told The Royal Gazette: "They talk in terms of pulpit swapping requiring Immigration approval. I don't know what that in fact means.

"Canon Tilson did not do that. He was celebrating the Eucharist.

"Swapping requires another party but there was no other party involved. He was filling in where a person wasn't present.

"So I don't know what they mean by that. In any case that kind of thing is not appropriate for a government to make that kind of requirement - it's an infringement of his right to worship and carry out his duty as a priest."

He said St. Paul's was now being covered by local priests and that priests rarely moved around but tended to stay within their own parish.

"But there may be a difficulty until such time as all this is put to bed. It is not a good situation."

Asked what he wanted Government to do he said: "Cease and desist from all of this. I don't know what will happen.

"Government has not clarified that one. What is their definition of pulpit swapping? That's key. In any case I don't accept they have a right to do that - to prevent people from the worship of God.

"The ball is very much in the Government's court. The whole issue needs clarification and resolution."

He said in the East End there were outdoor Easter ceremonies planned involving various clergy and lay people.

He said: "I am sure they will go ahead. I see no reason not to do it."

Of the pulpit swapping he said: "I am aware that it happens and I am glad that it happens."

Rev. Leonard Santucci, who preaches at Heard Chapel AME church, also wondered what would happen at Easter.

He said it was common for the West End Ministerial Alliance to carry out Good Friday services at a variety of churches and pulpits, starting out at Westgate prison and finishing at St. James'.

He said: "These are usually ecumenical services traditionally involving the participation of clergy who are guest workers. Are they restricted because it's a form of preaching outside their pulpit?

"The same applies to the Easter Sunday services conducted throughout the island usually outside the church. Are the clergy here on a permit restricted from participating?

"If the answer is yes as in the Alan Tilson case it would have a detrimental impact on the Island."

Reverend Thomas Bower, who operates nearly all the time out of Chapel of Ease Church in St. David's, said he had feared arrest after taking a funeral service at the former US baselands church in St. David's on Sunday because his own church wasn't big enough for the congregation.

"This is ridiculous to say if someone is here on a work permit and if a congregation member dies they can't do the service in a different place."

He said the ruling threw up questions about preaching rights within parishes.

He said St. Peter's Church was the parish but Chapel of Ease, where he did the bulk of his preaching, was an offshoot of the main church where he occasionally worked.