Bishop of San Bernardino says Catholics who fear ICE raids can skip Sunday Mass

Bishop Rojas of San Bernardino of the Catholic Church has excused his parishioners from attending Sunday mass due to "potential immigration enforcement actions by civil authorities." In light of those concerns, Rojas issued "this decree in accordance with my authority under the Code of Canon Law... 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 went on to say: "Recognizing that fear of immigration enforcement, such as raids by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), may deter some members of our diocese from fulfilling the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation... and acknowledging that such fear constitutes a grave inconvenience that may impede the spiritual good of the faithful, I hereby decree the following..."

Rojas gave a dispensation from the obligation to attend mass, saying "All members of the faithful in the Diocese of San Bernardino who, due to genuine fear of immigration enforcement actions, are unable to attend Sunday Mass or Masses on holy days of obligation are dispensed from this obligation... until such time as this decree is revoked or amended."

Rojas offered the "encouragement of alternative spiritual practices" saying that those parishioners who do not attend "are encouraged to maintain their spiritual communion with Christ and His Church through acts of personal prayer, reading Sacred Scripture, or participation in devotions such as the Rosary or the Divine Mercy Chaplet." He also recommended "televised" Mass.

"Pastoral care and assurances" were also recommended as he said that "parishes are encouraged to explore alternative means of catechesis and sacramental preparation for those unable to attend regularly." Rojas said that duration and scope would be "until further notice or until such time as the circumstances necessitating this decree are sufficiently resolved."

In conclusion, he wrote "In issuing this decree, I am guided by the Church's mission to care for the spiritual welfare of all entrusted to my care, particularly those who face fear or hardship. I entrust this diocese to the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, and invoke God's blessing upon all the faithful."

The letter was signed by Rojas as well as Msgr. Gerard M. Lopez, the Vicar General.