Overview

• On July 8, Bishop Alberto Rojas invoked Canon 1247 to dispense parishioners who fear Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions from attending Sunday and holy day Masses
• The dispensation remains in effect until formally revoked despite no new church-site raids being reported since the June 20 detentions at Montclair and Highland parishes
• Rojas encouraged the faithful to sustain their spiritual communion through personal prayer, Scripture reading or televised and online services
• The decree follows President Trump’s revocation of the ICE policy barring arrests at sensitive locations including places of worship
• The Diocese of Nashville issued a similar exemption in May and other U.S. dioceses are weighing comparable measures