SAN BERNARDINO — Immigration enforcement actions have increased significantly across the San Bernardino region, including on parish property. As a result, Bishop Alberto Rojas has lifted the obligation for Catholics who are immigrants to attend Mass, becoming the first in the nation to do so.
The bishop announced the dispensation in a letter in English and Spanish issued on July 8, acknowledging the fear that has gripped his community of an estimated 1 million Catholics.
“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,” he said in the letter.
The bishop encouraged alternative spiritual practices, such as participating in televised or online Masses, personal prayer, reading of Sacred Scripture, or participating in devotions such as the rosary or the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
Earlier, in a letter dated June 23, Bishop Rojas described what was unfolding in his diocese.
“We have seen a change and an increase in immigration enforcement in our region and specifically in our diocese. Authorities are now seizing brothers and sisters indiscriminately, without respect for their right to due process and their dignity as children of God.
“I say once again to our immigrant communities who are bearing the trauma and injustice of these tactics that your Church walks with you and supports you. We join you in carrying this very difficult cross.
“While we surely respect and appreciate the right of law enforcement to keep our communities safe from violent criminals, we are now seeing agents detain people as they leave their homes, in their places of work and other randomly chosen public settings. We have experienced at least one case of ICE agents entering a parish property and seizing several people. It should be no surprise that this is creating a tremendous amount of fear, confusion and anxiety for many. It is not of the Gospel of Jesus Christ — which guides us in all that we do.
“I ask all political leaders and decision-makers to please reconsider and cease these tactics immediately, in favor of an approach that respects human rights and human dignity and builds toward a more lasting, comprehensive reform of our immigration system.
“Many are taking to the streets to voice their opposition to the current immigration enforcement tactics. It is their Constitutional right to do this, and I call on all protestors to act without vulgarity, violence toward others, or destruction of property. The tension around this issue has been further heightened by the decision to deploy federal National Guard troops and military personnel to the sites of these protests. At this point, this seems only to increase the level of anger and fear of violence in the streets.
“Our late Holy Father, Pope Francis, once told me that his greatest fear was division. Indeed, it is painful to see such division amongst God’s people at this moment. This is not what He wants for us. Let us instead remember what we all share — our creation in His image and likeness. Let us look for God in one another.
“We continue as Catholics in this Jubilee Year, called to carry the hope of Christ in our hearts and to share it with the world. We know this hope is an antidote to the strife and suffering in our communities. May it prevail over this division and may God’s Kingdom come.”
