2 Catholic dioceses say immigrants can skip Mass over ICE raid fears

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Axios

Updated 11 hours ago


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.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2025/07/09/catholic-nashville-san-bernardino-immigrants-ice

[BaronChocula]

1. Gee thanks

Imagine what legal services the church could pay for if they only had billions and billions of dollars.

[Sanity Claws]

2. Catholic Charities is one of the largest providers of immigration legal services in the country

As far as I know, Catholic Charities provides immigration in every diocese in the country. The various Catholic Charities coordinate immigration work under the Catholic Legal immigration Network Inc (CLINC) https://www.cliniclegal.org/

They may have many failings but they are strong supporters of immigration rights.

[BaronChocula]

8. Well that's good to know

I should ask my sister what she knows about it. She was an immigration judge.

I know the Church does a lot of charitable work around the world. I guess I was feeling a little salty when I saw the post.

[twodogsbarking]

3. The "Get out of hell free card". Just this once though and poke yourself in the eye to appreciate it.

[mdbl]

5. As someone who was brought up in a Catholic School...

I wish they had "Get out of Hell free cards" back then. I needed about 1000 of em.

[twodogsbarking]

6. Only 1000. You must have been a good kid.

[Paladin]

4. I hope a whole bunch of Catholics are pissed at trump about this. (nt)

I'm not Catholic, but as usual, I'm pissed at trump.

[ancianita]

7. As Catholics, if they love their church they'd better be pissed, because their USCCB and Church sure are.

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2025-07/us-budget-bill-bishops-concern-inequality-migrants-environment.html

[maxsolomon]

9. There is no skipping Mass. Are they insane? God doesn't reward slackers.

Waiting for ICE to block the doors on Spanish-language services and put everyone through the wringer on the way out. That might be a step up that even the Pope notices.

Meanwhile, plenty of RCC parishes are preaching Trump support and Fetus-fetish at every Mass.

[obamanut2012]

10. The Bubonic Plague, Covid, and now this