In brief
Bishop Alberto Rojas of the San Bernardino Diocese has allowed parishioners to skip Mass if they fear immigration enforcement.
In a rare move due to increasing immigration enforcement actions, Bishop Alberto Rojas of the Diocese of San Bernardino announced that Catholics fearing arrest can forego attending Mass. This decision affects approximately 1.6 million worshippers in Southern California. In a letter released on Tuesday, the Bishop emphasized that those with a "genuine fear of immigration enforcement" are not obliged to attend Sunday Mass or holiday services. This action comes amidst heightened immigration raids across the U.S., particularly under the Trump administration. Reports indicate that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have been actively detaining individuals in public areas, including shopping centers and outside churches. San Bernardino is not the first diocese to take such a step; earlier this year, Nashville's diocese also excused Mass attendance in light of safety concerns related to immigration raids. As enforcement actions intensify, religious institutions are responding with heightened awareness of their congregants' fears.
