The Archdiocese of Boston is calling for the removal of a politicized nativity display at St. Susanna Parish in Dedham, Massachusetts, describing the scene as a violation of the Church’s norms for sacred objects. The usual figures of Mary, Joseph and the Christ child are missing from the outdoor nativity display at the parish and have been replaced by a sign reading “ICE was here,” a reference to U.S. immigration enforcement.
The display features an empty manger, as well as a sign about ICE, and another sign that reads, “The Holy Family is safe in the Sanctuary of our Church… If you see ICE please call LUCE,” referencing a migrant-rights hotline.
According to WCVB, an ABC affiliate, Father Stephen Josoma, the church’s pastor, came up with the idea.
“What is the objective by doing this? To help people recognize the plight of people who are really in dire need, and how are we treating them,” he said. “We’re supposed to bring out the best of people in Christmas.”
According to WCVB’s report, the parish has a history of using its nativity display to highlight social and political issues. Previous themes included gun control, climate change, and immigration. In 2018, for example, the parish placed a depiction of Baby Jesus in a cage to protest family-separation policies at the border.
On Dec. 5, Archdiocese of Boston spokesperson Terrence Donilon issued a statement to media saying the display should be removed and that the church had not sought or received permission to depart from canonical norms for sacred imagery or to put up “a politically divisive display outside the church.”
“The people of God have the right to expect that, when they come to church, they will encounter genuine opportunities for prayer and Catholic worship — not divisive political messaging,” the rep for the archdiocese said. “The Church’s norms prohibit the use of sacred objects for any purpose other than the devotion of God’s people. This includes images of the Christ Child in the manger, which are to be used solely to foster faith and devotion.”
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