Critics of a nativity scene in suburban Boston that highlights issues of immigration and refugee crises are missing the point. The church has doubled down on its social justice mission by displaying a nativity scene that replaces the baby Jesus with "I.C.E. WAS HERE." This bold move is not about politicizing Christmas, but about drawing attention to the real-world struggles of migrants and refugees.
The display, at St. Susanna Parish in Dedham, Massachusetts, includes a phone number for people to call if they spot immigration agents. It's a clear statement that God's new life is often found in the margins, out of the desert, and in places like overcrowded shelters or refugee camps.
However, the response from some has been swift and dismissive. The Archdiocese of Boston called it "divisive political messaging" that minimizes the nativity scene and ignores its sacred purpose. A Catholic Action League official described it as a "crackpot political stunt" by a dissident priest who is politicizing Christmas.
But this criticism misses the mark. St. Susanna's display is not about exploiting Christmas or promoting left-wing ideology; it's about using the holiday to highlight the struggles of real people. The church should be leading the conversation on immigration and refugee crises, rather than condemning those who are trying to speak out.
The reality is that millions of Catholics in this country have been struggling with the contradictions between their faith and social justice values. They want to see churches like Boston's act with boldness and compassion, not just rhetoric.
In fact, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has recently released a statement condemning "indiscriminate mass deportation" and calling for an end to dehumanizing rhetoric and violence against immigrants or law enforcement.
The St. Susanna nativity scene is part of a larger conversation that needs to be had in our country. By standing alongside the people they serve, the parish is showing that the church cares about the struggles of migrants and refugees. It's not just about Christmas; it's about the future of the church and its values.
As one parishioner from Guatemala said, "This means a lot for us. I just came here to say thank you to them." The St. Susanna nativity scene is a call to action, a reminder that we need more churches like this one, which are willing to take a stand on social justice issues and show compassion to those who need it most.
The display, at St. Susanna Parish in Dedham, Massachusetts, includes a phone number for people to call if they spot immigration agents. It's a clear statement that God's new life is often found in the margins, out of the desert, and in places like overcrowded shelters or refugee camps.
However, the response from some has been swift and dismissive. The Archdiocese of Boston called it "divisive political messaging" that minimizes the nativity scene and ignores its sacred purpose. A Catholic Action League official described it as a "crackpot political stunt" by a dissident priest who is politicizing Christmas.
But this criticism misses the mark. St. Susanna's display is not about exploiting Christmas or promoting left-wing ideology; it's about using the holiday to highlight the struggles of real people. The church should be leading the conversation on immigration and refugee crises, rather than condemning those who are trying to speak out.
The reality is that millions of Catholics in this country have been struggling with the contradictions between their faith and social justice values. They want to see churches like Boston's act with boldness and compassion, not just rhetoric.
In fact, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has recently released a statement condemning "indiscriminate mass deportation" and calling for an end to dehumanizing rhetoric and violence against immigrants or law enforcement.
The St. Susanna nativity scene is part of a larger conversation that needs to be had in our country. By standing alongside the people they serve, the parish is showing that the church cares about the struggles of migrants and refugees. It's not just about Christmas; it's about the future of the church and its values.
As one parishioner from Guatemala said, "This means a lot for us. I just came here to say thank you to them." The St. Susanna nativity scene is a call to action, a reminder that we need more churches like this one, which are willing to take a stand on social justice issues and show compassion to those who need it most.
I mean, can't believe some people are still mad about this nativity scene 
. It's not about politicizing Christmas or being left-wing; it's about using the holiday to bring attention to real-world struggles that affect millions of Catholics in the US 
. The church should be leading the conversation on immigration and refugee crises, not just talking about 'faith' 
. And honestly, who is this priest supposed to be offending? The fact that he's trying to make a difference by speaking out is actually kinda inspiring 
. I'd love to see more churches take a stand like St Susanna's 
...
. Those who are quick to call it a "crackpot political stunt" just need to get out more and talk to people from different walks of life... trust me, it'll give you a new perspective 
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like whats wrong with highlighting the struggles of migrants & refugees? isnt christmas about spreading love & kindness? the fact that some ppl are calling it "divisive political messaging" is just frustrating 
i think its awesome that st susanna parish is using christmas to draw attention to these issues and im so inspired by their boldness 
. It's not about ruining the holiday vibe for everyone, but actually using it as an opportunity to shed light on real-world struggles of migrants and refugees. I think it takes a lot of guts to put up a display that literally says "I.C.E. WAS HERE" – it's not going to be comfortable for some people, but it's definitely sparking a conversation 
. They're saying it's "divisive" and trying to minimize the church's message, but I think that's just an excuse to avoid talking about these tough issues. The thing is, churches like this one are already doing their part to promote social justice and compassion – they're not being radical or extreme; they're just standing up for what they believe in 
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The way they're combining fresh avocados with crispy bacon and melted cheddar... it's like a party in your mouth! 
Anyway, back to the nativity scene, I feel for the priest who put that "I.C.E. WAS HERE" sign. It's like, he's trying to make a point about social justice, but some people are just too close-minded to see it 
. If churches like St. Susanna Parish are willing to take a stand on social justice issues and show compassion to those who need it most, then we should be supporting them, not tearing them down 
. But if they're going to do that, they might as well show up on social media too 
.
. And honestly, I think this kind of stuff is exactly what we need more of in our country 
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. We need churches like St Susanna's to speak out against injustice & show compassion to those who need it most 
. It's time 4 the church 2 take a stand on social justice issues instead of just talkin' about it 
. The fact that ppl r callin' it "divisive" just means they're not ready 2 listen 
. We should b grateful for ppl like that priest who's willin' 2 spark a conversation 
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The church's bold move is trying to break the cycle of ignoring immigration and refugee crises by using the nativity scene as a platform for conversation. It's time for churches to take action on social justice issues, rather than just talking about them.
. And if the Catholic Action League thinks this display is some kind of "crackpot political stunt", they're missing the point entirely 
The fact that some people are calling this display "divisive" just feels like they're trying to silence those who are speaking out against systemic injustices. It's like, shouldn't the church be a safe space for uncomfortable conversations and hard truths? 
. some people are hating on them for "politicizing christmas" 
. But some church officials are saying its a "crackpot political stunt" that ignores sacred purposes 
. The US Catholic bishops have come out against indiscriminate deportation and called for compassion towards immigrants 
. This nativity scene is like a call to action, showing that churches can take a stand on important issues