A friend recently shared an article with me about a controversial nativity scene at a church in his neighborhood on the outskirts of Boston that is creating controversy.
The Nativity scene, located outside St. Susanna parish in Dedham, Massachusetts depicts a crèche with a sign replacing the Holy Family which reads “ICE was here.”
I was deeply upset by this mockery of what should be a holy portrayal to spread the true message of Christmas in the community.
Making Reparation
Thankfully, my friend was able to gather with several other local Catholics to pray a public rosary in reparation for this attack against Our Lord. He told me that they received a considerable amount of support from locals who were clearly discontented with the nativity scene.
A Woke Abduction
This display is wrong for several reasons.
It is a woke abduction of the Holy Family for political reasons. The pastor, Fr. Stephen Josoma said his intention is to imply that the Holy Family was taken by ICE. This weaponization of Christmas is used to criticize federal agents who are trying to enforce the law which Fr. Stephen claims is “brutal.”
The Holy Family Followed the Law
The Holy Family cannot be likened to illegal immigrants. They were citizens who followed the laws of their time. The reason why Saint Joseph and Our Lady went to Bethlehem, the place of their birth, was to comply with the Roman law that required a census. It was a legal affirmation of their citizenship.
This isn’t the first time that the Fr. Josoma, has promoted social justice issues using themed crèche scenes. According to the article by MassLive, the parish’s 2019 Christmas scene featured the Holy Family floating on water while the Three Magi and their camel look like they are sinking in the rising water. This tragic depiction was meant to illustrate the “crisis” caused by climate change.
Another year, the Nativity scene had the Infant Jesus locked in a cage trying to draw a parallel with the U.S. government allegedly separating immigrant children from parents.
The Parish website front page features one rotating pictures showing members of the community holding a sign that reads: “Hate has no place in Dedham, All Are Welcome.”
Why Does Our Lord Get no Respect?
The most egregious aspect of this irreverent display is how Our Lord is mistreated. He is not permitted the honor of being in a nativity scene. He, along with Saint Joseph and Our Lady are analogously put on par with illegal immigrants.
When our secular world is cancelling the celebration of Christmas, Our Lord needs to be brought into the front and center of our culture. He is the Light of the World that will overcome the darkness of our times. Removing Him from the scene is like taking Christ out of Christmas.
First published on TFP.org.
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