Crimea: Catholic priest faces explusion, residency permit not renewed

A Catholic parish in Crimea will lose its priest in October, because the Russian government has not renewed the residency permit of the Polish-born pastor, Catholic Culture informs.

Father Piotr Rosochacki will be required to leave Crimea on October 25, the Forum 18 news service reports. Having served in the parish in Simferopol for five years, he had expected to have his permit extended without difficulty. But following the Russian takeover of Crimea, policies have change dramatically. The quick renewal of residency permits "was under Ukrainian law," a Russian government official observed. "Now we are a different country."

There are 12 Roman Catholic priests currently serving in Crimea: eight Polish and four Ukrainian. Eventually all these priests will face the same problem as their permits expire.

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