A Southern California bishop has taken the unusual step of excusing Catholics from attending Sunday Mass due to fears surrounding immigration raids. On Tuesday, Bishop Alberto Rojas of the Diocese of San Bernardino issued a decree allowing churchgoers to forgo their obligation to attend Mass if they are genuinely afraid of immigration enforcement actions. This decision comes in response to the Trump administration’s intensified deportation operations, which have sparked anxiety among immigrant communities across the United States.

The Diocese of San Bernardino, one of the largest in the country, serves approximately one million Catholics in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Bishop Rojas emphasized that his decision was guided by the Church’s mission to care for the spiritual welfare of its members, especially those facing fear or hardship. He encouraged parishioners to engage in alternative spiritual practices during this time.

Typically, such dispensations are granted during natural disasters, wars, or other extreme circumstances. However, the current climate of heightened immigration enforcement has prompted this rare move. The announcement followed an immigration operation at a Los Angeles park, where Mayor Karen Bass publicly condemned the raid and demanded its cessation.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. He argued that the decree reflects the administration’s aggressive tactics, which force individuals to choose between their faith and freedom. Newsom’s comments drew a response from a White House spokesperson, who criticized him for previously closing churches during the COVID-19 pandemic while allowing other secular venues to remain open.

The decree has received support from Catholic leaders like Father James Martin, who highlighted the growing concern over religious freedom in America. He noted that even Catholic churches are no longer seen as safe havens for worshippers. This sentiment echoes a similar decree issued by the Diocese of Nashville in May, which also responded to immigration enforcement activities by relieving Catholics of their Sunday Mass obligation if their safety was at risk.