The bishop of the sixth largest Catholic diocese in the United States has told parishioners they can miss Mass if they are afraid of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.
Bishop Alberto Rojas, who leads the Diocese of San Bernardino in Southern California, has told the one million Catholics in his diocese that they may stay home on Sundays if they fear being detained by ICE at church.
Fear of immigration enforcement continues to loom over the region.
Attending Mass is a central part of Catholic practice and a serious obligation for worshippers, who encounter Jesus Christ through the Eucharist.
Bishop Rojas has suggested that, for the time being, Catholics pray the rosary or read Scripture at home instead of attending services.
The move follows high-profile raids targeting undocumented people in California earlier this year. Immigration enforcement actions increased sharply in late January, with more than 8,000 people detained across the US and large-scale operations reported.
In early June, coordinated raids across Los Angeles focused heavily on undocumented immigrants with no criminal record.
The crackdown gained global attention and led to mass protests, resulting in President Trump deploying thousands of active-duty US Marines and National Guard troops to Los Angeles.
California governor Gavin Newsom condemned the decision, calling the President a “stone cold liar”.
Since then, concern has remained within local communities. According to the Los Angeles Times, many houses of worship say up to a third or even half their congregations are no longer attending in person.
The National Catholic Reporter reports that ICE detained several people at two parish properties in the San Bernardino area: St Adelaide Parish in Highland and Our Lady of Lourdes in Montclair. In the former, individuals were allegedly chased into the car park before being detained. At the latter, a long-time parishioner was picked up on church property.
However, the Department of Homeland Security has rebutted those claims, telling The Times that accusations agents entered the church to make the arrest were “false”, adding: “The illegal alien chose to pull into the church car park [and] officers then safely made the arrest.”
Speaking to Associated Press, Bishop Rojas said: “There is a real fear gripping many in our parish communities that if they venture out into any kind of public setting they will be arrested by immigration officers."
“Sadly, that includes attending Mass. The recent apprehension of individuals at two of our Catholic parishes has only intensified that fear. I want our immigrant communities to know that their Church stands with them and walks with them through this trying time.”