2 Catholic Dioceses Say Immigrants Can Skip Mass Over ICE Raid Fears

At least two Catholic dioceses in the U.S. say immigrants fearful of detentions from ongoing immigration raids are not required to attend Sunday Mass.

Why it matters: The rare dispensations from the dioceses of Nashville and San Bernardino, California, signal how some local Catholic officials are responding to the growing panic that immigrants feel from the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement.

Driving the news: The Diocese of San Bernardino announced Tuesday that immigrants who had a “genuine fear” about getting caught in immigration raids were dispensed from the weekly obligation of Sunday Mass.

• “In issuing this decree, I’m guided by the Church’s mission to care for the spiritual welfare of all entrusted under my care, particularly those who face fear or hardship,” San Bernardino Bishop Alberto Rojas and Vicar General Gerard M. Lopez wrote.
• The diocese east of Los Angeles is the sixth-largest in the U.S. and serves around 1 million Catholics, according to its website.

The Diocese of Nashville issued a similar decree in May after officials noticed a significant decline in attendance at Spanish-speaking Mass services, per local media.

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State of play: The move comes after President Trump changed an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policy that previously prevented agents from raiding churches.

• The move has met with intense criticism from some Christian leaders but drew praise from some white evangelicals.

Zoom in: It’s unclear how many other dioceses are considering or have issued similar announcements.

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