Rhode Island Bishop Condemns Gay Nativity Scene

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Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, who heads the Diocese of Providence, sharply criticized what he described as a “gay nativity scene” on November 28, noting that the image, featuring two Josephs watching over Jesus, is a “sacrilege” and “an attack on the Christian Faith.”

Tobin made his comments on his Facebook page. His post included a picture of the nativity scene, which was getting lots of discussion on social media sites.
The two Josephs, dressed in pink, are watching over Jesus. This contrasts with nativity scenes supported by Catholics and most Christians in which Joseph and Mary watch over Jesus.
“How sad that someone believes it’s okay (or funny or cool) to impose their own agenda on the holy Birth of Jesus,” Tobin wrote in his post. “Pray for those who did so, for their change of heart, and that Jesus will forgive this sacrilege, this attack on the Christian Faith.”

The image that Tobin criticizes drew attention when a Los Angeles-based comedian, Cameron Esposito, tweeted about it on his Twitter page, according to the Washington Times.
The Times described the scene in the yard of Esposito’s neighbors as an “LGBT makeover” and reported that the display prompted 22,000 likes and thousands of shares on Twitter.
Bishop Tobin has been a longtime foe of LGBT rights. He has spoken out against same-sex marriage in the past.

"Despite the current trends of our society, the Church must redouble its commitment to proclaim and defend authentic concepts of marriage and family as we have received them from God,” Tobin said in a statement in 2015.