Leaders of a Catholic church in Massachusetts have decided to keep a controversial nativity scene that includes a message against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), despite criticism and an order from the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston to remove it. The nursery at St. Susana Parish in the town of Dedham replaces the traditional figures of Jesus, Mary and Joseph with a sign reading in English: “ICE was here,” suggesting that the Holy Family was stopped by immigration agents.
A smaller message says the three figures are “safe in the sanctuary of our church,” and another includes contact information for an immigrant advocacy group that tracks ICE activity in Massachusetts. Traditional elements, such as shepherds, sheep and the Three Kings, are always placed around the manger.
Church leaders set up the nativity scene shortly after Thanksgiving, part of a recurring tradition of non-traditional nativity scenes hosted by the ward’s peace and justice group. The congregation’s Rev. Stephen Josoma said in a statement that the intention was not to provoke controversy, but to provoke reflection and dialogue.
“Our hope was to create a dialogue around contemporary life,” he said, explaining that the nativity scene invites us to reflect on what the birth of Christ would be like in the modern world. He described the nativity scene as a religious art intended to arouse emotions and introspection. The priest acknowledged that many people do not agree with the message, but he stressed that this does not mean that the exhibition is sacrilegious.
However, the Archdiocese of Boston disagrees. Church leaders ordered the parish to remove the sign, arguing that it violated Church rules governing the use of sacred objects. In a statement, they said the faithful have the right to expect spaces dedicated to prayer and devotion, “and not divisive political messages,” and called for the nativity scene to be restored to its traditional and sacred purpose. They also noted that the parish had neither requested nor received permission to waive these rules.
Shared reactions
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons also condemned the birth. He called him “absolutely abhorrent” and accused him of contributing to a dangerous narrative. Lyons told Fox News in a statement that these types of messages fuel hostility toward law enforcement and cited what he described as a dramatic increase in assaults against ICE agents. The official made a similar statement about apps in which users report Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities. On the other hand, he applauded the Archdiocese of Boston for publicly opposing the exhibit and said many ICE agents in Massachusetts are faithful Catholics and first-generation Americans.
Likewise, the local press indicates that the crèche has divided the residents of Dedham. Some parish residents and supporters have praised her for addressing what they see as humanitarian issues related to immigration enforcement. Others, however, criticized the scene as inappropriate or risky, saying a church is not the appropriate place to deliver a message pointing the finger at a federal law enforcement agency.
In general, the Nativity has sparked both political and religious debate. Online, reactions are also mixed, ranging from gratitude to the parish to accusations that the exhibit mocks the meaning of Christmas. Even those who applauded the Church’s intentions expressed concern that the message could inflame tensions in an already polarized time.
This isn’t the first time Santa Susanna Parish has attracted national attention for its Christmas decorations. In 2018, the church depicted Baby Jesus in a cage to criticize family separation policies under the first Donald Trump administration. Other previous decorations have addressed topics such as gun violence and climate change. All sparked debate and enhanced the parish’s reputation for its use of religious imagery to address contemporary social issues.
The parish of Santa Susana is not the only church to have carried out this type of action. Two Chicago-area churches used non-traditional nativity scenes to reference immigration enforcement. In Evanston, Lake Street Church depicted Baby Jesus with bound hands and Mary and Joseph wearing gas masks to draw parallels between the Holy Family’s history as refugees and immigration detention today. Another nearby church completely destroyed the Sagrada Familia and posted a sign saying it was “hidden” due to ICE activity.
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