Polemics erupt over removal of Apache Christ icons at mission of San Giuseppe

The removal of the Apache Christ icons by Father Peter Chudy Sixtus Simeon-Aguinam at the Mission of San Giuseppe in the Mescalero Reservation of New Mexico has sparked controversy in the United States. This action has triggered reactions from many parishioners who believe it has derailed the reconciliation process between the Church and indigenous communities.

The removed icons and symbolic objects represented an important blend of the congregation’s indigenous culture and the Catholic faith, including that of the Apache Christ.