A Nativity scene depicting Jesus, Mary and Joseph as caged refugees is again turning the spotlight on the nation’s immigration policies.
The Rev. Karen Clark Ristine, pastor of Claremont United Methodist Church in Southern California, said the church uses its annual Nativity scene to address a topical, societal issue, according to CBS Los Angeles.
Ristine posted the image on her Facebook account over the weekend:
Inside the church, the Holy Family is reunited in a more traditional Nativity setting.
Ristine told CNN she hopes the Nativity scene will spark discussion.
In 2013, the display depicted Trayvon Martin in the manger. The following year, the church depicted a homeless Virgin Mary at a bus stop with a newborn Baby Jesus.
President Donald Trump has made immigration reform a hallmark of his administration. Most recently, the federal government announced it is cutting to 18,000 the number who will be given safe haven, down from 30,000 this fiscal year and 45,000 the year before that. The Obama administration set a goal of 110,000 for fiscal year 2017.
“This proposed ceiling takes into account the ongoing security and humanitarian crisis on our border and the massive asylum backlog, which now includes nearly one million individuals,” the White House said in a statement. “The overwhelming backlog is completely unsustainable and needs to be addressed before we accept large numbers of refugees.”
About the Author
