Controversy Surrounds Massachusetts Church’s Nativity Scene

A church in Massachusetts has stirred up some heated discussion after a significant element of its annual Nativity scene was notably absent.

St. Susanna Catholic Church, located in Dedham, a suburb of Boston, set up a Nativity scene outside, which featured an empty manger complemented by a sign stating “ICE Was Here,” alongside contact details for the state’s immigration enforcement agency.

Father Stephen Josoma, the pastor at St. Susanna, explained that the church’s peace and justice group organizes this display yearly.

“I want you to imagine what would happen if Christ were born today—what would he encounter?” Josoma shared in a statement.

CJ Doyle, who heads the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts, voiced concerns, saying he heard from upset parishioners regarding the display, noting that the Holy Family—Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—was missing.

“This is incredibly offensive,” Doyle remarked. “He is politicizing Christmas, trivializing the Holy Family, and using the Catholic diocese to promote his leftist views.”

Josoma defended the exhibit, referring to it as “religious art” aimed at stirring emotions in the viewers.

“It should touch people deeply, motivate them to change,” he stressed. “If it causes a strong response, maybe that’s something to ponder.”

Over the past ten years, Josoma has been recognized for his provocative Nativity scenes. He and the parish’s peace and justice group have also released statements on various issues, including mass shootings and global warming.

Josoma expressed that the Nativity scene aims to consider what struggles Christ would face in today’s society.

In a notable incident in 2018, the diocese put a cage around a baby Jesus statue in another Nativity scene, in what appeared to comment on the southern border situation.

“This is a clear instance of a priest who has repeatedly engaged in these controversial publicity stunts for political gain,” Doyle said. “This has nothing to do with our Savior’s birth.”

Josoma attributed the inspiration for the displays to his experiences with refugees, dating back to 2017.

Doyle pointed out that the Archdiocese of Boston has allowed such behaviors, suggesting that it should have intervened.

“They should have stopped him,” Doyle said. “It’s straightforward.”

He added, “I pray for an end to the dehumanizing rhetoric and violence, whether against immigrants or law enforcement.”

When asked if the display was “inhuman” toward law enforcement, Doyle responded, “Absolutely.”

St. Susanna isn’t alone in making political statements with Nativity scenes this year.

Another church in Illinois featured a manger scene with the baby Jesus’s hands bound by zip ties and Mary and Joseph wearing gas masks, intending to depict forced family separations.

Gillian Westerfield, an associate pastor at Lake Street Church in Evanston, noted that the imagery resonates with current issues and the story of Jesus’ birth.

“This installation is not subtle because the crisis it addresses is real,” the church stated on Facebook. “The Holy Family were refugees… We hope to recognize the profound implications of celebrating the birth of a refugee child while turning away those who follow in his footsteps.”

Westerfield also mentioned that, as a Baptist church, they aim to address moral questions without endorsing any political party.

“We’re not backing any party here,” she said. “No one is addressing the needs of the people of Illinois and the broader American populace.”

Despite initial backlash, Josoma has reported that the exhibit has received “overwhelmingly supportive” responses.