Claremont United Methodist Church in Claremont, CA has received a lot backlash after Rev Karen Ristine, who leads the church, shared the image of the nativity on Facebook stating its relevance to the current immigration crisis in the United States.
She said: “In a time in our country when refugee families seek asylum at our borders and are unwillingly separated from one another, we consider the most well-known refugee family in the world.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, the Holy Family. 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?
“Imagine Joseph and Mary separated at the border and Jesus no older than two taken from his mother and placed behind the fences of a Border Patrol detention centre as more than 5,500 children have been the past three years.
“Jesus grew up to teach us kindness and mercy and a radical welcome of all people.”
After quoting Matthew 25:35, Rev Ristine said that inside the church people could see a more traditional nativity.
“You will see this same family reunited, the Holy Family together, in a nativity that joins the angels in singing ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and good will to all’. Luke 2:14,” she said.
While the post shared on 7th…
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