Empty remark by priest on allowance (9)
I believe the answer is:
platitude
'empty remark' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'priest on allowance' is the wordplay.
'priest' becomes 'p' (ecclesiastical abbreviation).
'on' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'allowance' becomes 'latitude' (latitude can mean allowance or independence).
'p'+'latitude'='PLATITUDE'
'by' is the link.
(Other definitions for platitude that I've seen before include "Licence" , "Commonplace remark uttered as if original" , "bromide" , "Trite remark made as if it were important." , "Trite observation" .)