A quiet Massachusetts town is at the center of a growing controversy this Christmas, not for what adorns a church Nativity scene, but for what’s conspicuously missing.
St. Susanna Catholic Church in Dedham has erected a display featuring an empty manger, starkly highlighting a painful reality for many. Beside it, a sign simply states, “ICE was here,” accompanied by information for an immigration monitoring group.
The absence of the Holy Family – Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus – has ignited a firestorm of criticism. One parishioner voiced outrage, feeling the display deeply offensive and a blatant politicization of a sacred tradition.
Critics argue the pastor is exploiting the profound symbolism of Christmas, trivializing the story of the Holy Family to push a specific ideological agenda. The scene, they say, transforms a message of hope into a platform for political activism.
The pastor, however, defends the display as a powerful reflection of the world’s current struggles. He believes it’s a necessary way to connect the ancient story of a displaced family with the modern plight of immigrants and refugees.
This isn’t the first time this church has used its Nativity scene to make a statement. Over the past decade, the pastor and his parish have addressed issues ranging from mass shootings to climate change, consistently using the scene as a form of social commentary.
In 2018, the Nativity scene depicted a caged baby Jesus and walled-off Magi, a direct response to the crisis at the southern border. These displays are intended to provoke thought and challenge the status quo, according to the pastor.
The controversy extends beyond St. Susanna. In Illinois, another church presented a Nativity scene with baby Jesus’ hands zip-tied and Mary and Joseph wearing gas masks, a visual representation of forced family separation.
The Illinois church explained the imagery wasn’t meant to be subtle, emphasizing the very real and present crisis faced by migrants. They drew a direct parallel between the Holy Family’s experience as refugees and the struggles of those seeking safety today.
For the churches involved, these displays aren’t about taking sides in a political debate, but about upholding a moral imperative. They believe faith demands a response to injustice and a commitment to welcoming the vulnerable.
The pastor in Massachusetts has faced harsh backlash, even being personally attacked, but remains resolute. He sees his work as holding up a mirror to society, forcing a difficult but necessary reflection on its values.
The debate raises fundamental questions about the role of faith in public life and the extent to which religious institutions should engage in political discourse. It’s a conversation that’s likely to continue long after the Christmas decorations are taken down.
While some see these displays as a betrayal of the Christmas spirit, others view them as a powerful reminder of the story’s original message: a message of compassion, hope, and welcome for all.
