The Archdiocese of Indianapolis is the latest US diocese to issue a decree suspending the Sunday obligation for those who are concerned about immigration enforcement activity.
“I hereby dispense from the obligation to participate in Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation all those persons living within the Archdiocese of Indianapolis who reasonably fear being detained, separated from their families, or experience intimidation due to the increased immigration enforcement,” said a decree from Archbishop Charles Thompson of Indianapolis.
The decree came into force on September 4 and lasts until September 30, and applies to those who are legally living in the United States as well.
Those who do not attend Mass due to fears of an encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents “are encouraged to supplement spiritual practices on Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation with practices such as praying with the Sunday readings of the Lectionary, praying the rosary or other sacramentals, and/or watching a livestreamed Mass on television or the internet,” said Thompson.
Priests and ministers in the diocese “are encouraged to attend to the spiritual care of those who must make use of this dispensation to the best of their ability, especially regarding the Sacraments Penance and Anointing of the Sick, or the distribution of Holy Communion to the homebound,” said the decree.
ICE activity in the Indianapolis area has increased in recent days. Several local businesses temporarily closed their doors as a result.
Since 2025, dioceses throughout the United States have temporarily suspended the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays or Holy Days of Obligation due to ICE activity.
The first of these was the Diocese of San Bernardino, California, which on July 8, 2025 issued a decree saying that those with a “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.” The decree was issued following two ICE raids at churches.
The Diocese of San Bernardino confirmed to the Catholic Herald that the decree remained in effect as of September 4, 2026.
Similar decrees have been issued by the Archdiocese of New Orleans and the Dioceses of Columbus, Ohio and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
In May 2025, the Diocese of Nashville, Tennessee said that those who were concerned should not risk their safety to attend Mass, but did not issue an official decree.
