Dedham Church Protests ICE With Nativity Scene

DEDHAM, MA — A Dedham church's Nativity scene is missing Jesus, Mary and Joseph but includes a sign reading, "ICE WAS HERE," according to its Facebook page.

A second sign in the Saint Susanna Nativity scene says, "The Holy Family is safe in The Sanctuary of Our Church. If You see I.C.E. Please Call LUCE AT 617-370-5023."

See also: Quincy Woman Bilked Out Of $10K In Bitcoin Jury Duty Scam: Cops

LUCE is a "coalition of immigrant-led, grassroots organizations who build people power for everyone across Massachusetts," according to its website.

Rev. Stephen Josoma of Saint Susanna planned the Nativity Scene, according to WCVB.

See also: MA Flu Cases Rising As New Variant Spreads

"What is the objective by doing this? To help people recognize the plight of people who are really in dire need, and how are we treating them," Josoma said in the WCVB story. "We're supposed to bring out the best of people in Christmas."

In 2018, the Catholic parish's Nativity scene depicted baby Jesus in a cage and the wise men behind a wall to protest the Trump administration’s policy to separate families at the border, according to Boston.com.

See also: Viral TikTok Video Shows Ocean Spray Cranberry Can Cut Open To Contain Only Water

This prompted Fox News pundit Sean Hannity to Tweet Christmas was "under siege," Newsweek reported.

Boston 25 News described the Nativity scene as "causing controversy."

See also: MA Residents Without REAL ID To Face New Fee

Reaction to the post on the Saint Susana Facebook page was overwhelmingly positive but C.J. Doyle, the executive director of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts, was critical, according WCVB.

"This is a case of a dissident priest who has a long history of these kind of crackpot political stunts," Doyle said in the WCVB story.

See also: Rhode Island Environmental Cops Catch 3 Unlicensed MA Fishermen With 69 Fish: Police