As immigration raids continue, parishes in Los Angeles have reported a significant decline in Sunday Mass attendance among Hispanic parishioners.
With many local Catholics saying they are scared to leave their homes, pastors are finding new ways to minister to their flocks.
Recent data suggests that between 800,000-900,000 undocumented immigrants reside in Los Angeles County — nearly 10 percent of the county’s population.
On June 6, Immigration and Custom enforcement (ICE) officers began conducting raids on immigrant communities across the Los Angeles region. Spontaneous raids have taken place at shops, in neighborhoods, and at restaurants, among other places.
“These raids have stirred up a spirit of fear that has gripped so many of our immigrants, especially in the Hispanic community,” according to Father Parker Sandoval, vice-chancellor and senior director of ministerial services in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
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