Key Takeaways
- St. Susanna’s Parish in Dedham has sparked controversy with its nativity scene, which features a sign reading "ICE was here" and implies that immigration agents have taken the statues of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
- The display is meant to highlight the struggles of refugee families and the impact of current immigration policies on their lives.
- The Archdiocese of Boston has condemned the display, calling it "politically divisive" and saying that it should be restored to its "proper sacred purpose".
- The parish has a history of using its nativity scene as a form of political art, tackling issues like gun control, climate change, and immigration policies.
- The controversy has sparked a debate about the role of churches in speaking out on social and political issues.
Introduction to the Controversy
The nativity scene at St. Susanna’s Parish in Dedham has been at the center of a controversy, with some community members and Catholic leaders condemning the display as "politically divisive" and "sacrilegious". The scene features a sign reading "ICE was here" and implies that immigration agents have taken the statues of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, which are typically part of the nativity scene. Instead, a smaller sign below the main sign reads "The Holy Family is safe in our Church… If you see ICE please call LUCE at 617-370-5023". This display is meant to highlight the struggles of refugee families and the impact of current immigration policies on their lives.
The Parish’s Motivation
Father Stephen Josoma, the leader of St. Susanna’s Parish, said that he chose to focus the nativity scene on immigration after speaking with several refugee families that the church has worked with in the past few years. These families, who come from countries like Honduras, Guatemala, and Afghanistan, expressed fear about what the stepped-up deportations could mean if they were sent back to the violence they fled. Josoma said that the display is meant to show "the context Christmas is happening in this year" and that current immigration policies feel "brutal" and threaten the status of people who have already settled in the U.S. He also stated that the role of churches is to speak out on issues and that the Gospel is about how we treat the least among us.
The Archdiocese’s Response
The Archdiocese of Boston has condemned the display, calling it a "politically divisive display" and saying that the parish should restore the créche to its "proper sacred purpose". The Archdiocese also stated that St. Susanna’s did not request or receive permission for the display and that church norms "prohibit the use of sacred objects" for purposes other than worship. A spokesperson for the Archdiocese pointed to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ long-standing statements on immigration, which call for more humane treatment of migrants while also recognizing a country’s right to regulate its borders.
The Parish’s History of Controversy
This is not the first time that St. Susanna’s has clashed with critics over its nativity messaging. For more than a decade, the parish has turned the display into a form of political art, tackling issues like gun control, climate change, and other immigration policies. In 2018, under Josoma’s leadership, the nativity featured a baby Jesus figure in a cage, protesting the Trump administration’s policy that separated immigrant families at the border. The parish’s history of controversy has sparked a debate about the role of churches in speaking out on social and political issues.
Criticism and Support
CJ Doyle, head of the Catholic Action League, has accused the parish and Josoma of creating "sacrilegious" political theater. He said that Josoma is "politicizing Christmas, exploiting the Holy Family, trivializing it and using his position as a pastor to promote his left-wing political ideology". On the other hand, Josoma has rejected these criticisms, saying that this is exactly the kind of moral witness that churches should take up. He also stated that religious art is meant to provoke reflection, even discomfort, and that critics’ anger toward the display says more about people’s priorities than the installation itself.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding St. Susanna’s nativity scene has sparked a debate about the role of churches in speaking out on social and political issues. While some have condemned the display as "politically divisive" and "sacrilegious", others have seen it as a necessary form of moral witness. The parish’s history of using its nativity scene as a form of political art has raised questions about the boundaries between religion and politics, and the role of churches in shaping public discourse. Ultimately, the display has highlighted the struggles of refugee families and the impact of current immigration policies on their lives, and has sparked a conversation about the need for more humane treatment of migrants.