Office > Christian Formation

Guest Speaker Approval

Guest Speaker Approval Guidelines
All parishes, schools, college campuses, and institutions within the Catholic Diocese of Richmond must follow the Speaker Approval Process when inviting speakers from outside the Diocese to address topics of faith and morals, whether for adults or minors. This applies to both in-person and virtual presentations.

• Lay Speakers are approved for a period of three years.
• Priests and Deacons are approved for one year.

All Guest Speaker Approval Requests need to be submitted with completed forms no less than 45 days prior to the event. You may not advertise your event until approval is given.

Special Guidelines: Topics on Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity

For Adults:

• Only speakers from the pre-approved list maintained by the Office for Evangelization may be invited to address topics on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.
• Suggestions for additional speakers can be submitted for review during the quarterly vetting process.

For Youth:

• These topics should only be addressed by Youth Ministers, Pastors, or Parochial Vicars. Outside speakers are not approved to speak to youth on these topics.

For more information, visit the Office for Evangelization’s resources page.

Speaker Approval Process

Exemptions

• Bishops are exempt from the Speaker Approval Process. Invitations to visiting Bishops or Archbishops should be extended by the Bishop of Richmond. Submit the Request Form to Invite a Bishop/Archbishop to the Office of the Bishop.

Important Notes

• Advertising for events may only occur after speaker approval is granted.
• Follow the steps below to submit approval requests.

Steps for Speaker Approval

1. Review Required Documents:
   • Bishop Barry C. Knestout’s Letter on Guest Speaker Approval (English).
   • Carta del Obispo Knestout (Español).
2. Check the Approved Speakers List:
   • 2022–2025 Approved Speakers List (Updated April 15, 2025).
     • If your speaker is on the list of Approved Speakers, please use the form for already Approved Speakers.
   • Eucharistic Preachers listed on the USCCB website are pre-approved.
     • Submit the form for Approved Speakers along with a Letter of Suitability from their Bishop.
3. Submitting a New Speaker:
   If your speaker is not on the approved list, provide the following:
   • Guest Speaker Approval Request Form (Updated 11/2022).
   • Curriculum Vitae of the speaker (PDF format).
   • Applicable Forms:
     • Form A – Catholic Layperson Speaker for Adults/Minors.
     • Form B – Consecrated Life Speaker for Adults/Minors.
     • Form D – Non-Catholic Layperson or Religious Speaker for Adults/Minors.
     • Letter of Suitability for Priests or Deacons.

Tip: Download forms to your device before completing them to prevent loss of information. Always confirm you’re using the latest version.

Submission Checklist

• Checklist for Speaker Approval
• Submit all documents at least 45 days prior to the event.
• Ensure all forms are complete before submission.

Contact Information
Guest Speaker Coordinator
Catholic Diocese of Richmond
7800 Carousel Lane, Richmond, VA 23294
Phone: 804-622-5158
Email: [email protected]

For questions about the Speaker Approval Process, contact the Guest Speaker Coordinator.

All Guest Speaker Approval Requests need to be submitted with completed forms no less than 45 days prior to the event. You may not advertise your event until approval is given.