INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - A silent demonstration on Monument Circle is making national headlines.
Christ Church Cathedral has the biblical family of Mary, Joseph and Jesus locked up on its front lawn. It is making a loud and bold statement about the government's treatment of immigrant families caught crossing the US-Mexican border.
The image turned a lot of people's heads as they walked by. For many, the plastic figures, locked behind a chain link fence and barbed wire, brought home the plight of real families locked in holding cages of government detention centers.
Jorge Gomez was moved.
"It just humanizes what parents are going through as they are immigrating to the U.S. out of basic human need," Gomez said.
According to church Dean and Rector Stephen Carlsen, the church has been an advocate for immigrant rights for years. He pointed out that Christianity's holy family were homeless refugees and fled their country for their own safety.
"These religious symbols are supposed to point us somewhere to open our hearts for compassion for those who need compassion most," Carlsen explained. "We want people to receive a very simple message that every family is sacred. That God's heart is always with those who are the most vulnerable and most jeopardized. God's heart is there. Our heart should be there, too."
David Bear took in the image as he walked past. He called it thought provoking.
"It says we all had to wake up and watch what's going on," Bear said. "Obviously, there are strong positions on the issue."
It took Jennifer Wall a few minutes for figure out the image. Wall says she believes in the Christian faith.
"But I also think there are laws in place for immigration that we have to be cognizant of," she said.
Takkeem Morgan took a lot of pictures of what he sees as complicated situation.
"All right, we know laws, and laws tell people what to do and what they can do, but morality is a completely different thing," Morgan said.
How long will the church keep its holy family locked up? Carlsen isn't saying. He asked how long will the government continue to lock up real immigrant families?
The caged holy family will almost certainly be on display Wednesday when tens of thousands of people come down for the July 4th Independence Day celebration.
The church released this statement regarding the campaign:
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. Jesus, Mary and Joseph were homeless and fled danger to seek asylum.
The Holy Family today calls us to stand with all families seeking safety and a future for their children. We will not stand by while children are being taken from their parents, and families are being taken from our communities and congregations.
People of good will and faith must not allow this to continue. We must not be divided by race, language or culture, but reach out to care for our neighbors—because every family is sacred.