Posted on 12/11/2025 8:54:29 PM PST by ebb tide
St. Susanna Catholic Church in Dedham, Massachusetts, has declined to take down a Nativity display suggesting that Jesus might have faced deportation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Fr. Stephen Josoma, pastor of St. Susanna, told MassLive on Monday that he considers the Nativity display consistent with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) “Special Message” that criticized mass deportations.
“We believe our position and practice to be faithful to the gospel and Catholic teaching, especially as recently put forth by the Catholic bishops of the United States, including our own Archbishop Henning, as well as Pope Leo,” stated Josoma.
“Any divisiveness is a reflection of our polarized society, much of which originates with the changing, unjust policies and laws of the current United States administration.”
READ: Multiple churches set up blasphemous Nativity scenes pushing anti-ICE propaganda
Last month in Baltimore, the USCCB issued a “Special Message” denouncing mass deportations of illegal immigrants, its first statement of this kind in 12 years.
“We bishops advocate for a meaningful reform of our nation’s immigration laws and procedures,” read the message. “Human dignity and national security are not in conflict. Both are possible if people of good will work together. … We oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people.”
In a statement issued last Friday, the Archdiocese of Boston said the Nativity scene should be taken down, noting that parishioners should not encounter political messaging as they come to Mass.
“The people of God have the right to expect that, when they come to church, they will encounter genuine opportunities for prayer and Catholic worship—not divisive political messaging,” stated the archdiocese.
“The Church’s norms prohibit the use of sacred objects for any purpose other than the devotion of God’s people. …The display should be removed, and the manger restored to its proper sacred purpose.”
Later in the interview, Josoma emphasized his wish to meet with Archbishop Richard Henning before the parish makes any “final decisions” on whether to remove the display.
“We are waiting for an opportunity of dialogue and clarity with Bishop Henning before reaching any final decisions.”
The Nativity abuse follows a long list of recent politically themed Nativity scenes that attack the work of ICE. Earlier this week, Missiongathering Church in Charlotte constructed a Nativity display depicting ICE agents detaining the Holy Family, along with the shepherds and the Magi gathered at the manger.
“The people of God have the right to expect that, when they come to church, they will encounter genuine opportunities for prayer and Catholic worship—not divisive political messaging,” stated the archdiocese.
Nowadays, the only thing a frankenbishop will discipline a priest for is if he offers a Traditional Latin Mass or preaches about Hell.
Ping
I do wish all these churches would stick to the season and stop this woke crap.
BLASE CUPICH: Families are being torn apart. Children are left in fear. And communities are shaken by immigration raids and detentions. These actions wound the soul of our city. Let me be clear. The Church stands with migrants.
I’m with you on this one.
Libs obey the rules only when it suits their purposes. The pastor’s vow of obedience to his bishop must take back seat to his insufferable lib self-righteousness
The Catholic Church has gone full communist. Why don’t they feed their damn illegal aliens. I don’t think the U.S. Taxpayers should pay to fill the pews in Catholic Churches with America-hating, illegal aliens.
“The Catholic Church has gone full communist. Why don’t they feed their damn illegal aliens. I don’t think the U.S. Taxpayers should pay to fill the pews in Catholic Churches with America-hating, illegal aliens.”
I don’t think the majority of catholic churches in America are anywhere near as whacked out as this one. It is interesting though that not only can’t the catholic church control its queers, it can’t even control some of its churches being run by woke human debris.
If Roman ICE had rounded up and deported all the illegals in Bethlehem there might have been room at Inn for Joseph and Mary.
There’s more here then what’s being reported. For a priest to defy a bishop is a big deal.
Only if they offer a Traditional Latin Mass or preach about Hell, will they be disciplined.
Meanwhile baby Jesus is aborted down the street, no pastor cares.
When he was bishop of Seattle, Frankencardinal Cupich didn’t want his priests praying outside abortion clinics.
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