A pastor in Massachusetts has ignited a fierce controversy by installing a politically charged Nativity scene that directly criticises US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The display has prompted strong rebukes from the agency's acting director and the local Catholic Archdiocese.
Controversial Display at Saint Susanna Parish
Reverend Stephen Josoma of Saint Susanna Parish in the Boston suburb of Dedham placed a sign reading 'ICE WAS HERE' over the empty manger of a traditional Nativity scene. Attached to the manger was another sign stating, 'The Holy Family is safe in The Sanctuary of our Church,' along with a contact number for LUCE, a Massachusetts-based group that monitors immigration enforcement and supports immigrant communities.
Josoma defended his creation as 'religious art' designed to 'evoke emotions in people'. He told Fox News the installation was meant to move and change viewers, suggesting that a strong reaction might be a sign to reflect on the underlying issues.
Official Condemnation and Calls for Removal
The reaction from authorities was swift and severe. ICE acting Director Todd Lyons condemned the scene in a statement to the Daily Mail, calling the reverend's actions 'absolutely abhorrent'. Lyons argued that such rhetoric contributes to a dangerous narrative that has led to a more than 1,150 percent increase in assaults on ICE officers.
This stark figure, cited repeatedly by the Department of Homeland Security and White House officials, refers to over 250 recorded attacks on officers this year, alongside a rise in stalking, doxxing, and death threats, though public data to fully confirm the percentage increase is limited.
Adding to the pressure, the Archdiocese of Boston issued a formal statement demanding the sign's removal. The Church stated that parishioners have a right to expect opportunities for prayer, not divisive political messaging, and emphasised that using sacred objects for political purposes is prohibited. The Archdiocese confirmed Saint Susanna Parish did not have permission to erect the controversial sign.
A History of Political Nativity Scenes
This is not Reverend Josoma's first foray into political commentary through Christmas displays. For years, he has erected provocative scenes at his parish, including:
- A display featuring mass shooting death tolls.
- A scene flooded to represent climate change.
- An immigration-themed scene during Trump's first term that placed baby Jesus in a cage and the Three Wise Men behind a fence.
Josoma explained his approach is to imagine 'what would it be like if Christ was born into the context of the world today, what would he be facing?'.
ICE Director Lyons criticised Josoma for using his pulpit to advance an activist agenda but praised the Archdiocese for taking a stand against what he termed a 'dangerous and extremist narrative'. The Trump administration has regularly linked such anti-ICE rhetoric to political violence targeting enforcement officers.
Local residents have expressed mixed feelings. Michael Hersey, a neighbour of the parish, told CBS he was shocked by the sign, stating, 'Personally, I just think it is not the right place.' The Daily Mail has reached out to both Josoma and the Archdiocese for further comment.
