BOSTON — The Archdiocese of Boston is speaking out against a controversial sign placed at the Nativity scene of a parish in Dedham that reads “ICE was here.”

In response to a Herald request for comment, the Archdiocese’s Secretary for Communications and Public Affairs Terrence Donilon called the sign “divisive political messaging,” urging the parish to remove the sign immediately.

“The people of God have the right to expect that, when they come to church, they will encounter genuine opportunities for prayer and Catholic worship — not divisive political messaging. The Church’s norms prohibit the use of sacred objects for any purpose other than the devotion of God’s people. This includes images of the Christ Child in the manger, which are to be used solely to foster faith and devotion,” said Donilon, who adds the parish never received permission from the Archdiocese to display the sign.

“Regarding the recent incident, St. Susanna Parish neither requested nor received permission from the Archdiocese to depart from this canonical norm or to place a politically divisive display outside the church. The display should be removed, and the manger restored to its proper sacred purpose,” he said.

The sign at St. Susanna Parish was the brainchild of Reverend Stephen Josoma, who has a history of political activism in the form of demonstrations and signs like the one at the display. Underneath the “ICE was here” message, the sign goes on to read “The Holy Family is safe in our Church… If you see ICE please call LUCE at 617-370-5023.”

It was placed where Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus are supposed to be, was meant to imply that ICE agents took them away and has drawn national criticism, including from Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, who called it “sad political rhetoric.”

“It’s very sad, especially during the holiday season. ICE agents and officers are human beings too. We don’t want to be referred to in things like that. The brave men and women of ICE are out there doing a dangerous job every day. And, I hate to say it, but people are taking corny things like this decoration to make a point on the backs of our men and women and the job they’re doing every day. All that is doing is adding fuel to the fire,” Lyons told the Herald on Thursday in response to the sign.

“We aren’t snatching babies, we aren’t snatching families. Now, if you’re here in the country illegally and came here as a family unit, that’s a different story. But, we’re not out there separating children and we’re not out there separating families. Felon after felon after felon is being arrested by ICE Boston every day and all over New England, yet nobody is focusing on that. All they’re focusing on is this political rhetoric and I don’t know what point they’re trying to make,” he said.

The Herald has made numerous requests with the parish and Rev. Josoma for comment, all of which have gone unanswered. But, on its official website, the parish has posted images of the altered creche. It also has an official Facebook page, where a user labeled as a page administrator, Phil Mandeville, posted a picture of the sign, commenting that he is “extremely thankful to be a member of this parish,” going on to defend Rev. Josoma.

The Herald has reached out to Director Lyons for comment on the Archdiocese’s stance against the sign.

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