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Bishop Alberto Rojas of the Diocese of San Bernardino has excused Catholics from their obligation to attend Mass due to immigration-related fears. The decision follows recent detentions on parish properties, causing anxiety among parishioners about potential apprehension and deportation.
Bishop Rojas, who leads over 1.5 million Catholics in Southern California, stated that the dispensation is necessary because many parishioners fear attending public gatherings, including Mass, due to the presence of immigration officers.
"There is a real fear gripping many in our parish communities," Rojas said.
The diocese, which serves Riverside and San Bernardino counties, has a significant Latino population. Rojas, an immigrant from Aguascalientes, Mexico, has consistently supported immigrant communities and criticized federal enforcement tactics on church properties.
In response to the bishop's decree, Pastor Omar Coronado of Inland Congregations United for Change praised Rojas for his "extraordinary act of moral courage and pastoral care." The Diocese of San Bernardino is the nation's fifth-largest Catholic diocese, and Rojas's decision is seen as a protective measure for undocumented immigrants who have contributed positively to their communities.
While the Diocese of Orange and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles have not issued similar dispensations, they are taking steps to support immigrant communities, such as offering Communion at home and providing spiritual support at immigration court hearings.