US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
Church nativity scenes add zip ties, gas masks and ICE to protest immigration raids
Churches in Illinois and Massachusetts altered Nativity scenes to protest immigration enforcement, citing over 2,000 arrests in September, aiming to highlight family separation and community trauma.
- This year, churches in Dedham, Massachusetts and the Chicago suburbs altered Nativity scenes with protest signs and props against ICE activity, including a missing Christ child and gas-masked Mary.
- Parish leaders say growing raids and community fear prompted displays portraying the Holy Family as refugees amid intensified enforcement and at least 2 federal arrests in September.
- The Archdiocese of Boston ordered the sign removed and the manger restored, while Boston Archbishop Richard Henning took down this year's display and Todd Lyons called the scene `absolutely abhorrent` and `dangerous`.
- Parish refusal to remove the display has mobilized volunteers and heightened tensions, as Rev. Stephen Josoma, pastor at St. Susanna Parish, was seeking a meeting but had yet to comply as of Thursday.
- Observers link these displays to a national debate over faith and enforcement under the Trump administration, with various congregations repurposing Nativity scenes to protest issues including family separations, while critics call for scrutiny of tax-exempt status.
Insights by Ground AI
Podcasts & Opinions
67 Articles
67 Articles
Associated Press News+64 Reposted by 64 other sources
Church nativity scenes add zip ties, gas masks and ICE to protest immigration raids
Nativity scenes at some churches are sparking fierce debates. At Lake Street Church in Evanston, Illinois, the baby Jesus lies with zip-tied wrists in the kind of emergency blankets given ICE detainees.
·United States
Read Full Article
Church nativity scenes add zip ties, gas masks and ICE to protest immigration raids – UK Times
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails One baby Jesus lays in a manger in the snow, wrapped in a silver emergency blanket with his wrists zip-tied. Mary stands nearby outside the Lake Street Church in Evanston, Illinois, wearing a plastic gas mask and flanked by Roman soldiers in tactical vests labele…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources67
Leaning Left20Leaning Right6Center31Last UpdatedBias Distribution54% Center
Bias Distribution
- 54% of the sources are Center
54% Center
L 35%
C 54%
11%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
