"Mary stands nearby outside the Lake Street Church in Evanston, Illinois, wearing a plastic gas mask and flanked by Roman soldiers in tactical vests labeled "ICE." In another Chicago suburb, not far from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility that has drawn protests over detentions, a sign at the manger outside the Urban Village Church says "Due to ICE activity in our community the Holy Family is in hiding.""
"Their creators say they are placing the ancient story in a contemporary frame, portraying the Holy Family as refugees to reflect on the fear of separation and deportation that many families including their own parishioners are experiencing today. Supporters of the displays say the Bible is on their side, but critics call the scenes sacrilegious and politically divisive, accusing the churches of abusing sacred imagery and some arguing they should lose their tax-exempt status."
"The archdiocese in Massachusetts ordered that the manger must be "restored to its proper sacred purpose." The debate comes as immigration enforcement intensifies in states and cities whose leaders object to the immigration crackdown. In September alone, a combined total of at least 2,000 people were arrested in Illinois and Massachusetts, according to federal arrest figures released by immigration authorities."
Several churches altered Nativity displays to portray the infant Jesus and the Holy Family as refugees threatened by ICE enforcement. Examples include a baby Jesus wrapped in an emergency blanket with zip-tied wrists, Mary wearing a gas mask flanked by soldiers labeled "ICE," and a missing Christ child replaced by a sign reading "ICE was here." Creators intended to reflect fears of separation and deportation experienced by families, including parishioners. Supporters cite Biblical justification while critics call the scenes sacrilegious and politically divisive and urge restoration of sacred imagery and possible loss of tax-exempt status.
Read at www.npr.org
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