A Catholic parish in Massachusetts is drawing national attention after declining to remove a Nativity display that critics say carries a political message related to immigration enforcement, despite a directive from Church authorities.
St. Susanna Catholic Church in Dedham has kept the display in place after the Archdiocese of Boston stated that it should be removed, citing concerns that parishioners should not encounter political messaging while attending Mass, according to LifeSiteNews.
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Father Stephen Josoma, the parish’s pastor, has defended the display, saying he believes it aligns with Catholic teaching and recent statements from the U.S. bishops. In comments reported by MassLive and cited by LifeSiteNews, Josoma said, “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.”
The Nativity scene has been interpreted as suggesting that the Holy Family could face deportation under modern immigration enforcement policies. Josoma argued that any controversy surrounding the display reflects broader social tensions rather than an attempt by the parish to be divisive. “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,” he said, according to LifeSiteNews.
The debate comes in the wake of a recent “Special Message” issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), which criticized mass deportations of immigrants. The statement, released last month, was the bishops’ first broad message on the issue in more than a decade. In that message, the bishops wrote, “We bishops advocate for a meaningful reform of our nation’s immigration laws and procedures,” adding, “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,” according to LifeSiteNews.
Church leadership in Boston, however, has taken a different view regarding the use of the Nativity scene. In a statement issued by the Archdiocese and reported by LifeSiteNews, officials said that parishioners have a right to expect that churches remain places of prayer rather than political expression. “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,” the statement said.
The Archdiocese also emphasized Church norms governing sacred objects, stating, “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,” according to LifeSiteNews.
Despite the directive, Josoma indicated that the parish is not yet making a final decision. He expressed a desire for further discussion with Archbishop Richard Henning before any action is taken. “We are waiting for an opportunity of dialogue and clarity with Bishop Henning before reaching any final decisions,” he said, according to LifeSiteNews.
The situation in Dedham is part of a broader trend of politically themed Nativity displays appearing at churches across the country. LifeSiteNews reports that similar scenes have recently been erected elsewhere, including one in North Carolina depicting immigration enforcement agents detaining figures from the Nativity.
As discussions continue, the case has highlighted ongoing tensions within the Church over how Catholic social teaching should be expressed publicly, particularly when it intersects with contemporary political debates.
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