Latest news with #Canon1247
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
California bishop allows parishioners to skip Mass amid ICE raids
Members of the Diocese of San Bernardino were relieved of the obligation to attend Mass and encouraged to take up personal prayer on Tuesday in light of the increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids throughout the state of California. 'All members of the faithful in the Diocese of San Bernardino who, due to genuine fear of immigration enforcement actions, are unable to attend Sunday Mass or Masses on holy days of obligation are dispensed from this obligation, as provided for in Canon 1247, until such time as this decree is revoked or amended,' Bishop Alberto Rojas of San Bernardino wrote on the social platform X. The bishop's office said the decree will remain in effect until further notice or until the 'circumstances necessitating this decree are sufficiently resolved.' 'In issuing this decree, I am guided by the Church's mission to care for the spiritual welfare of all entrusted to my care, particularly those who face fear or hardship. I entrust this diocese to the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, and invoke God's blessing upon all the faithful,' Rojas said. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) chimed in on the move, stating First Amendment rights were being attacked under the Trump administration. 'Freedom of religion? Not in Donald Trump's America. People now have to choose between their faith and their freedom,' Newsom wrote in a Wednesday post on X. His comments come after weeks of controversy as the state engages in a lawsuit against the federal government for deploying National Guard soldiers against anti-ICE protests. Democratic lawmakers have alleged that individuals are being detained without due process, deprived of clean drinking water and electricity. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CNBC
09-07-2025
- Politics
- CNBC
Bishop of major Catholic diocese exempts parishioners from Mass over fears of ICE raids
A Catholic bishop in California has issued a rare decree allowing parishioners to miss Mass due to fears of raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Bishop Alberto Rojas of the Diocese of San Bernardino wrote that "such fear constitutes a grave inconvenience that may impede the spiritual good of the faithful." Catholic bishops have occasionally granted Mass exemptions during natural disasters, war or societal events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. But this appears to be the first time a bishop has invoked such a decree over immigration enforcement. "All members of the faithful in the Diocese of San Bernardino who, due to genuine fear of immigration enforcement actions, are unable to attend Sunday Mass or Masses on holy days of obligation are dispensed from this obligation, as provided for in Canon 1247, until such time as this decree is revoked or amended," Rojas wrote in the decree released Tuesday. The Diocese of Sen Bernardino is among the largest in the United States, and serves approximately 1.6 million Catholics in San Bernardino and Riverside counties in Southern California. "In issuing this decree, I am guided by the Church's mission to care for the spiritual welfare of all entrusted to my care, particular those who face fear or hardship," Rojas wrote. Rojas encouraged members of the diocese to find alternative ways to "maintain their spiritual communion with Christ," including through virtual Masses when offered. For decades, American presidents have traditionally limited the authority of federal agencies to conduct civil immigration enforcement actions in sensitive locations like churches, hospitals and schools. President Donald Trump revoked these restrictions on his first day in office. Since then, federal immigration officials have detained people suspected of being undocumented in schools and on church grounds. California Gov. Gavin Newsom pointed to the decree to highlight the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement actions, which have included ICE raids at stores and courthouses. "Freedom of religion? Not in Donald Trump's America," Newsom wrote on X. "People now have to choose between their faith and their freedom." The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on the decree or Newsom's comments.
The Hill
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
California bishop allows parishioners to skip Mass amid ICE raids
Members of the Diocese of San Bernardino were relieved of the obligation to attend Mass and encouraged to take up personal prayer on Tuesday in light of the increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids throughout the state of California. 'All members of the faithful in the Diocese of San Bernardino who, due to genuine fear of immigration enforcement actions, are unable to attend Sunday Mass or Masses on holy days of obligation are dispensed from this obligation, as provided for in Canon 1247, until such time as this decree is revoked or amended,' Bishop Alberto Rojas of San Bernardino wrote on X. The Bishop's Office said the decree will remain in effect until further notice or until the 'circumstances necessitating this decree are sufficiently resolved.' 'In issuing this decree, I am guided by the Church's mission to care for the spiritual welfare of all entrusted to my care, particularly those who face fear or hardship. I entrust this diocese to the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, and invoke God's blessing upon all the faithful,' Rojas said. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) chimed in on the move, stating First Amendment rights were being attacked under the Trump administration. 'Freedom of religion? Not in Donald Trump's America. People now have to choose between their faith and their freedom,' Newsom wrote in a Wednesday post on X. His comments come after weeks of controversy as the state engages in a lawsuit against the federal government for dispersing National Guard soldiers on anti-ICE protestors. Democratic lawmakers have alleged that individuals are being detained without due process, deprived of clean drinking water and electricity.
