In a notable response to escalating immigration enforcement in the United States, Bishop Alberto Rojas of the San Bernardino Diocese has given parishioners the option to forgo Mass attendance if they harbor genuine fears of immigration raids. This unprecedented dispensation was communicated in a letter on July 10, 2025, allowing the congregation of approximately 1.6 million Catholics in the region to prioritize their safety over traditional worship obligations.
Rojas recognized the pressures put on the community by recent federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions, which have resulted in approximately 2,000 arrests in the Los Angeles area since early June. These enforcement actions have increasingly occurred in public spaces, such as shopping center parking lots and bus stops, causing anxiety among immigrant families.
This decision aligns with similar measures taken by other dioceses, such as those in Nashville, which previously stated that Catholics should not be compelled to attend Mass if it jeopardizes their safety. Bishop Rojas's uplifting of the Mass obligation is a rare occurrence, typically reserved for significant crises, like the Covid-19 pandemic. The message from the diocese reflects a growing sensitivity to the needs of immigrant communities during these turbulent times in American immigration policy.
