In what might be the most controversial use of a Nativity scene in recent memory, a Catholic parish in Dedham, Massachusetts, ignited a firestorm this week after removing the figures of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph and replacing them with a politically charged message targeting federal immigration authorities. The bold move was quickly condemned—not just by outraged parishioners, but by the Catholic hierarchy itself.
The parish in question, St. Susanna Catholic Church, found itself at the center of national attention after erecting a display that read “ICE was here,” alongside messaging that encouraged undocumented immigrants to contact a local immigrant justice center. The message also claimed that “The Holy Family is safe in the Sanctuary of our Church.” The Peace and Justice ministry at the parish was responsible for the reimagined display, and Fr. Stephen Josoma, the church’s pastor, defended the move as an effort to reflect the plight of modern immigrants through the lens of the Nativity.
This is disgusting.
Saint Susanna Parish in Massachusetts is displaying a Nativity scene with an empty manger and a sign that reads, “ICE was here,” along with contact info for a group that monitors local immigration enforcement.
Stop using our religion for your activism. pic.twitter.com/c1JabTkXjx
— CatholicVote (@CatholicVote) December 4, 2025
Josoma stated that the church was merely “holding a mirror up to what’s happening,” pointing to his belief that ICE agents were specifically targeting churches that assist migrants. He added that some of his parishioners could face death if deported and insisted that the U.S. needs to do better in how it handles immigration.
But the Archdiocese of Boston was not impressed.
In a sharply worded statement, the Archdiocese made it clear that sacred objects are not to be politicized, rebuking St. Susanna’s leadership for using the Nativity—arguably the most iconic symbol of Christ’s birth—as a platform for political messaging. “The display should be removed,” the statement read, “and the manger restored to its proper sacred purpose.” The Archdiocese emphasized that worshippers expect churches to be places of “prayer and Catholic worship—not divisive political messaging.”
The rebuke underscores the Church’s formal stance that its sacred spaces are to remain politically neutral, especially during seasons of profound religious significance like Christmas. The statement also clarified that St. Susanna had not received approval to deviate from canonical norms or to place the display on church grounds.
Thank you to the Archdiocese of Boston for speaking out against these anti-law enforcement narratives coming from a pulpit. pic.twitter.com/yBCjwH7YGC
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) December 5, 2025
ICE Director Todd Lyons issued a statement thanking the Archdiocese for its leadership, calling the display “dangerous and extremist,” and praising church officials for stepping in. “Public messaging that demonizes law enforcement only escalates tensions and can lead to violence,” Lyons noted.
This isn’t the first time Fr. Josoma has used the Nativity scene to make a statement. In previous years, the parish incorporated themes of climate change and gun control into the Christmas display, making a pattern of using sacred imagery to address hot-button political topics.
But this year’s display struck a deeper nerve. Removing Jesus, Mary, and Joseph from a Catholic Nativity scene—regardless of intent—isn’t just a breach of tradition. It crosses into theological provocation. For many, it was seen not as a form of advocacy, but as a distortion of the season’s spiritual meaning.
And now, with the Archdiocese’s firm correction and ICE’s public support, St. Susanna’s message has not only been rejected—it has become a cautionary tale about the dangers of blurring sacred devotion with political activism, especially during the most holy time of the year.
