^{Reverend Alberto Rojas, Bishop of the Diocese of San Bernardino Ordaining Prelate and Principal Celebrant, leads the Ordination to the Priesthood mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Saturday, May 20, 2023. | Will Lester | Medianews Group | Getty Images}

Bishop Rojas Issues Rare Mass Exemption Over ICE Fears in California

In an unprecedented move, Bishop Alberto Rojas of the Diocese of San Bernardino has formally exempted Catholic parishioners from attending Sunday Mass and holy day obligations due to growing fear of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across Southern California.

“Such fear constitutes a grave inconvenience that may impede the spiritual good of the faithful,” Rojas wrote in his official decree issued Tuesday.

The Diocese of San Bernardino—one of the largest in the United States, with more than 1.6 million Catholics across San Bernardino and Riverside counties—has never before issued a dispensation for reasons tied to immigration policy.

An Exception Reserved for Crises Now Applied to Immigration

Historically, Catholic bishops have issued similar dispensations during extraordinary circumstances like natural disasters, wars, or most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Canon 1247 of the Catholic Church, attending Mass on Sundays and holy days is obligatory unless a serious reason exists or the bishop grants a dispensation.

Failure to attend Mass without valid excuse is traditionally considered a mortal sin, as outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

“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,” Rojas wrote.

Encouraging Virtual Worship Amid Immigration Crackdowns

Bishop Rojas also urged the faithful to seek alternative spiritual practices such as attending virtual Masses where available, so they can maintain communion with the Church despite their absence from physical worship.

This comes at a time when federal immigration enforcement in sensitive locations like churches, schools, and hospitals has intensified. Historically protected zones under past administrations, these spaces are now sites of active enforcement.

From Sacred Grounds to Surveillance Zones

Under the Trump administration, previous limits on ICE operations in sensitive areas were revoked, allowing immigration officers to detain undocumented individuals in schools, courthouses, and religious properties.

The policy shift has created widespread fear, particularly in immigrant-heavy dioceses like San Bernardino, which serve large Hispanic and undocumented communities. The chilling effect has reached the Church’s core mission, prompting the need for formal spiritual guidance amid political uncertainty.

Political Fallout: Newsom vs. Trump on Religious Freedom

California Governor Gavin Newsom weighed in on the bishop’s decision with sharp criticism of former President Trump’s immigration enforcement policies:

“Freedom of religion? Not in Donald Trump’s America,” Newsom wrote on X. “People now have to choose between their faith and their freedom.”

The White House did not respond to media requests for comment on the decree or Newsom’s remarks.

A Spiritual Response to Political Pressure

Bishop Rojas' dispensation underscores how deeply federal immigration policies are impacting day-to-day religious life in immigrant communities. It also highlights a broader tension between religious freedom, public safety, and the moral responsibility of the Church during politically charged times.

As America’s immigration debate escalates, the Diocese of San Bernardino may serve as a case study for how faith institutions respond when spiritual obligations collide with personal safety concerns driven by state action.