California: Bishop issues dispensation from Sunday Mass for parishioners after ICE raids on churches

Our Lady of Lourdes church, Montclair

Source: USCCB, Angelus News, Vatican News

Bishop Alberto Rojas of San Bernardino Diocese issued a statement on Tuesday freeing the faithful from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass, after two Catholic parishes in his diocese were raided by ICE agents. Multiple people were detained in the parking lot of St Adelaide Church in Highland, California.

The director of communications for the Diocese of San Bernardino, John Andrews, said those detained did not work for the parish nor were they parishioners. However, he reported that one male parishioner was taken into custody at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Montclair on June 20.

In a July 8 message to the faithful, Bishop Rojas wrote that "in light of the pastoral needs of our diocese and the concerns expressed by many of our brothers and sisters regarding fears of attending Mass due to potential immigration enforcement actions by civil authorities," he would use his authority under canon law to dispense the obligation from those "who, due to genuine fear of immigration enforcement actions, are unable to attend Sunday Mass or Masses on holy days of obligation."

Bishop Rojas cited the Code of Canon Law, Canon 87, Paragraph 1, which states: "A diocesan bishop, whenever he judges that it contributes to their spiritual good, is able to dispense the faithful from universal and particular disciplinary laws issued for his territory or his subjects by the supreme authority of the Church."

He added that those dispensed from their obligation should "maintain their spiritual communion with Christ and His Church," through other means such as prayer, spiritual reading, or watching a livestreamed or broadcast Mass.

In May, the Diocese of Nashville, Tennessee, reminded the faithful that those with sincerely held fear about their well-being during immigration enforcement efforts are not required to attend Sunday Mass according to the church's own teaching and canon law, but did not issue a formal dispensation.

The Trump administration rescinded in January a policy preventing immigration arrests at "sensitive locations," including houses of worship, schools and hospitals. The previous policy had exceptions for public safety or national security threats. The move, which was criticized by the US bishops' conference, was part of the Trump administration's effort to step up deportations.

LINKS

Trump administration reverses policy to permit ICE arrests at churches:
https://angelusnews.com/news/nation/ice-policy-churches-schools/

Human Dignity is Not Dependent on a Person's Citizenship or Immigration Status:
www.usccb.org/news/2025/human-dignity-not-dependent-persons-citizenship-or-immigration-status