San Bernardino Diocese Issues Mass Dispensation Over ICE

Bishop Alberto Rojas of the Diocese of San Bernardino has issued a decree dispensing Catholics from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass or holy days due to fears of ICE raids on church properties, citing Canon Law as his authority. The diocese, serving over 1.6 million Catholics in Southern California, is the first in the U.S. to formally announce such a dispensation in response to immigration enforcement, with other dioceses like Nashville also expressing similar flexibility. The bishop emphasized the Church's responsibility for the spiritual welfare of the faithful and encouraged alternative practices such as prayer and online Mass. Mass attendance has dropped significantly, with some parishes seeing up to a 50% decrease. The decree has drawn criticism from federal officials, who insist church arrests are rare, while California Governor Gavin Newsom and other Democrats argue federal actions threaten religious freedom. The dispensation remains in effect until further notice as the diocese continues to support affected parishioners.