Nativity scene

Read the latest stories and other news reports involving a nativity scene on Newser.com

14 Stories

Baby Jesus Thief: 'I Made a Dumb Mistake'

Figurine was stolen from Nativity scene last week

(Newser) - A baby Jesus figurine snatched from a Nativity scene in Colorado has been returned in time for Christmas, with an apology. The AP reports the statuette of Jesus lying in a manger, stolen from a public display in downtown Fort Collins early Sunday, was dropped off anonymously at a fire...

Pope Doesn't Appear to Be a Fan of This Nativity Scene

Vatican's choice for St. Peter's Square has a sci-fi theme

(Newser) - Without directly adding his own art criticism of the Nativity scene chosen by the Vatican this year for St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis has made his preference clear. Twice when speaking the faithful in the square on Sunday, the pope suggested they instead visit the 100 small, more traditional...

Topless Activist Tries to Steal Baby Jesus From Vatican

She's a member of Ukraine-based feminist group Femen

(Newser) - A topless "sextremist" attempted to grab the baby Jesus from a Nativity scene at the Vatican while yelling "God is woman" just hours before Pope Francis' Christmas Day address, Reuters reports. The woman, who also had "God is woman" painted on her back, hopped guardrails in St....

Cow Ditches Nativity Scene, Wanders Philly Instead

The Hereford had an adventurous night, busting out twice

(Newser) - A slippery cow who escaped a Nativity scene in Philadelphia is back in place—again. The cow, named Stormy, wandered away from the Nativity scene at Old First United Church of Christ early Thursday and ended up on Interstate 95 around 2:20am, reports the AP . Philadelphia police eventually boxed...

Woman Swipes Nativity Jesus, Reports Neglect: Cops

Woman in Bethlehem (Pa.) reports 'Joseph and Mary Christ' in joke

(Newser) - Police say a woman stole baby Jesus from a Nativity scene in Bethlehem, Pa., and dropped the figurine off at a hospital with a note explaining that the baby had been "neglected" by his parents, "Joseph and Mary Christ," reports the AP. "I did it. I...

Ohio Man's Controversial 'Zombie Nativity' Vandalized

But Jasen Dixon says the display will rise from the dead

(Newser) - A suburban Cincinnati man says someone vandalized the "Zombie Nativity" scene he puts up annually, beheading the ghoulish-looking Mary figure and flipping the greenish baby Jesus into the yard, the AP reports. Jasen Dixon says someone damaged the handmade scene early Tuesday at his home in Sycamore Township. He...

And Now ... a Hipster Nativity Scene

All yours for $130

(Newser) - It's that time of year when stories about Nativity scenes begin making headlines, and in this case, it involves an oh-so-modern twist. It seems the website Modern Nativity is selling a "Hipster Nativity Set" for $129.99, and it's drawing some attention. Think "Joseph" taking a...

Drunk-Driving Suspect Crashes, Tries to Hide in Nativity Scene

UK man was likely too big to fit in the manger

(Newser) - "Jesus Saves" probably doesn't refer to getting someone off the hook for a crime, as one suspected drunk driver recently found out in the UK. A man slammed his Mini Cooper into a metal barrier in Yorkshire on Saturday and then fled the scene, seeking sanctuary from law...

Mom Who Left Baby in Manger Won't Be Charged

She returned to NYC church to make sure he had been found

(Newser) - Authorities in New York City have decided that it would be pointless to file charges against the woman who abandoned her newborn baby boy in the middle of a church's Nativity scene . Police were able to track her down with the help of footage from the store where she...

Real Newborn Left in Church Nativity Scene

Baby boy was left in NYC church's manger

(Newser) - A janitor who heard a baby crying in an empty New York City church was astonished to find a real newborn baby in the church's Nativity scene with its umbilical cord still attached. Jose Moran tells the New York Daily News that he found the baby after returning from...

Joseph, Mary Get Engaged at Mich. Nativity Scene

Couple also met while playing Joseph and Mary last year

(Newser) - Joseph proposed marriage to Mary—in Michigan. Joe Maurer and Kate Heinlein became engaged during a break from portraying the parents of Jesus Christ. They were re-enacting the Nativity earlier this month for thousands of people at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Blumfield Township, near Saginaw. Dressed as Joseph, Maurer dropped...

Town to Man: Take Down Zombie Nativity

Township says he's in violation of zoning regulations

(Newser) - A suburban Cincinnati township has ordered a man to kill off his large "Zombie Nativity" scene. Sycamore Township has sent Jasen Dixon two notices of zoning violations after, officials say, they received complaints about debris at the home and upon inspection concluded the nativity violates rules on size and...

Trayvon Martin Replaces Jesus in Nativity Scene

California church is more 'brave' than subtle, says passerby

(Newser) - Most nativity scenes include three wise men and a stable. The one at Claremont United Methodist Church in California has replaced Jesus with Trayvon Martin wearing a hoodie, his heart pouring blood, the Los Angeles Times reports. "What if Jesus was lying there bleeding to death?" says the artist,...

Gitmo Troops Want Nativity Scenes Removed

Group of 18 says they unfairly promote Christianity

(Newser) - One of those annual nativity scene controversies has sprung up, but this time in an unusual place: Gitmo. Several troops at Guantanamo Bay lodged a protest with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation about nativity scenes put up inside two dining facilities, reports the Navy Times . They say the scenes promote...

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