Recently, a proposed bill suggested the halting of missionary work for religious ambassadors going to Switzerland–which includes those set apart by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). While not aimed at Mormons exclusively, Swiss officials relate, this could potentially affect the work in the European Union; however, there is petition made and hope for dispelling any such motion moving forward.
CNN reported today, once again, that a group of Mormon U.S. officials have sought to find a solution to the Swiss missionary restriction
13 Mormon members of Congress, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, actually wrote a letter last August petitioning Swiss officials to reconsider their decision, particularly as it applies to Mormon missionaries.
We earnestly petition the Swiss government to reconsider this decision and to work with us and the LDS Church to find a solution which would permit LDS missionaries to continue to perform their missionary service in Switzerland as they have done since 1850,” states the letter from Sens. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho; Orrin Hatch, R-Utah; Robert Bennett, R-Utah; and Reid, D-Nevada; and nine members of the House of Representatives.
The Swiss ambassador in Washington, Urs Ziswiler, said in response to the letter that the ban is the result of a 2002 change in Swiss immigration and labor laws that makes it easier for European nationals to find work in Switzerland and harder for everyone else, including missionaries…
Clearly this presents a problem for Swiss officials whose laws require equal treatment for all incoming parties to the land:
If we say we’ll continue to accept around 200 Mormon missionaries every year, and accept that they have a four month training before coming to Switzerland, there’s no way we can not accept missionaries from Brazil, from Africa, from religious communities which may not be as well known as the Mormons, which may be dubious or not – we don’t know.
From a legal point of view, we would have no way of saying ’no’ to those communities.
According to Swissinfo sources, the Migration Office grants about a dozen permits every year to the international scout movement – “an organisation that we know and can trust.” Mormons also have a long history in Switzerland, and as one LDS spokesperson stated, these missionaries come to love and serve the Swiss the people during their stay, and become ambassadors of understanding between countries as well as emissaries, having a favorable influence on the country.
A whitepaper clarifying that missionaries save up for missions and are not seeking employment while there, may also have assisted a re-evaluation of the positioning of this proposition to exclude Mormons from 2-year service in Switzerland.
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/16/mormons-u-s-officials-seek-way-around-swiss-missionary-restriction/
lds.org/newsroom
