Church puts their nativity scene in a cage to protest Trump's immigration policies

Traditionally, the nativity scene is pastoral — meant to inspire feelings of joy, not gut-wrenching horror. 

No wonder, then, that the nativity scene recently posted outside of Christ Church Cathedral in Indianapolis has inspired such a reaction. The Reverend Canon Lee Curtis had the statues of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph placed in a cage and displayed on the church's front lawn to symbolize the families currently detained indefinitely at the border.

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"The stark reality is many families have experienced or are experiencing this," Curtis told Mashable. 

The Reverend wants to communicate a clear message to those who witness the scene: "The holy family is every family. Every family is holy. We should aspire for families to be kept together ... [but] what's happening right now is indefinite detention."

Image: Christ church indianapolis

Religious leaders have condemned the administration for separating migrant parents from their children at the border and otherwise insisting on "zero tolerance."

"The Holy scripture is clear about how we are to treat people trying to find safety for their families—we are to show mercy and welcome them," Christ Church Cathedral Dean and Rector Steve Carlsen said in a press release.

Image: christ church indianapolis

Curtis hopes that people seriously process the icon, and that the image (and people's attention to the story) stays with them, even after the social media fury dies down.

As of now, the Trump administration refuses to state how many migrant children have been separated from their parents at the border. Despite a looming court deadline, they are struggling to reunite those separated. 

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