A Methodist church in California is under fire after unveiling a Nativity scene depicting Jesus, Mary and Joseph as refugees in cages.
Karen Clark Ristine, senior minister of Claremont United Methodist Church near Los Angeles, shared a photo on Facebook of the Holy Family as refugees in an attempt to spark a debate over the Trump administration’s separation policies at the US border.
“Shortly after the birth of Jesus, Joseph and Mary were forced to flee with their young son from Nazareth to Egypt to escape King Herod, a tyrant. They feared persecution and death. What if this family sought refuge in our country today?” Clark Ristine wrote on Saturday.
But the post garnered an avalanche of criticism, with some users slamming the church’s depiction as “sacrilegious.”
“This is WRONG and sacrilegious on so many levels!!!” Stacey Bretches commented on the post.
Another Facebook user, SJ Bender, wrote that the church’s decision to invoke politics was “disgusting.”
“To use Jesus, in any way to make a political statement is disgusting,” Bender wrote.
Claremont resident, Rudy Barbee, said he considered it a stretch for the church to liken the holy family to refugees.
“I respect the religiosity of it, but its a leap. I was born and raised Catholic,” Barbee told news station ABC7.
But others applauded the church for using the opportunity to draw attention to immigration issues.
“If Joseph and Mary reached our border today, they would be separated from their baby and locked up,” tweeted California Rep. Judy Chu. “I’m proud of Claremont United Methodist Church — which is in my district — for highlighting the plight of today’s refugees w/ this powerful nativity scene.
Claremont City Councilman Jed Leano said that the church has long offered its support to refugees over the years — and he praised their latest endeavor.
“I completely support their decision,” he told The Post. “I think its a profound and beautiful statement.”
He added: “There are certainly people who support and people who disagree with the sentiment.”
This is, as the crow flies, roughly 115 miles (185 km) from the U.S. - Mexico border.
SchrodingersNutsack on December 17th, 2020 at 16:43 UTC »
I have Jesus the Mexican Boy by Iron & Wine stuck in my head now.
xsited1 on December 17th, 2020 at 17:12 UTC »
Remember the story: King Herod initiated a murder of all the infants in Bethlehem in an attempt to get rid of the baby Jesus.
Spartan2470 on December 17th, 2020 at 17:14 UTC »
Here is a higher quality version of this image. Credit to the photographer, Karen Clark Ristine (the senior minister at this church).
Per here:
This is, as the crow flies, roughly 115 miles (185 km) from the U.S. - Mexico border.