'Lobster Jesus walks on water': Crustacean Nativity scene makes splash on 'Catholic Twitter'

A Cape Cod artist crafted a Nativity set perfect for New England: Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and others are depicted by lobsters. It certainly isn't the first time a Nativty has been swapped out with other creatures, but it's causing some debate on so-called "Catholic Twitter."

Leviticus 11:9-12 and Deuteronomy 14:9-10 ban the consumption of sea creatures that lack both fins and scales, granting Old Testament protection to crustaceans like lobsters.

Still, that wasn't the inspiration behind Rosemary Quantick's Lobster Nativity, which has been for sale for a few years but has recently gained notoriety online.

Speaking to the Cape Cod Times last year, Quantick, an English immigrant, explained that her motivation was her adopted home of the Cape and the New England love of lobsters.

The Nativity set is encased in a lobster trap, rather than the manger and baby Jesus rests in a clam shell on a bed of seaweed.

Agnostic Faine Greenwood, a civilian drone mapping technology and GIS/spatial data consultant, said on BlueSky that she bought the Nativity set, prompting both chuckles and questions from followers.

"King of the Crustaceans," celebrated Kenneth Freeman.

One follower called it "Christaceans."

"With all due respect to you and your faith traditions ... what the f——?" asked author Sarah Day.

Greenwood explained she is agnostic, and was raised by other agnostics, "which probably explains a lot."

However, Christopher Roberts, a self-described "Christian raised by (sadly) Christian nationalists," also fell in love with the lobster Nativity.

Assistant Professor Brittany Sutherland, who teaches at George Mason University, wondered how something like that would play in the "deeply Catholic parts of Louisiana."

"On the one hand," she continued, "lobsters are pretty close to crawfish and Cajuns know their edible aquatic bugs. On the other hand, eating Crustacean Jesus seems pretty significant in the sin department."

That said, Transubstantiation is the Catholic belief that during the Eucharist, the bread and wine change into the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ. Holy communion is a sacrament in most Christian churches and symbolizes the sacrifice Jesus made for the sins of man.

Real estate lawyer Maggie Hooman asked "Catholic Twitter" whether they found the Nativity offensive and got some mixed answers. Most who indicated they were Catholic found it funny or acceptable but "tacky."

John Grondelski, conservative foreign policy specialist and Catholic theologian, answered, "Yes, because the Christian message of the Nativity is Incarnation — God became man, not Sebastian the Lobster. Maybe 50 years ago, as a kid, it might have been cute in a kitschy/tacky sort of way, but human embodiment is under such attack that diluting the Incarnation is wrong."

He later added, "we have an Incarnation problem today — and since religious scenes shape minds, I do not want the Savior to be thought of as a shape-shifter."

A few folks on X asked about whether it was considered offensive. Gabriel Said Reynolds, a Crowley Professor of Islamic Studies and Theology at Notre Dame, polled his following. The majority agreed it was "blasphemy."

In its report, the news and culture site Denison Forum commented, "A 'Lobster nativity scene' on Cape Cod challenges perceptions of Christmas. Consider the profound humility of Jesus, who chose to become human and sacrifice his own 'life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.'"

An Israeli resident questioned, "Can lobster Jesus walk on water?"

Dan Turrentine, co-host of The Huddle, said he planned on getting the lobster Nativity for former White House press secretary Sean Spicer, a devout Catholic.

Several remembered the Nativity scene in the film "Love Actually," which featured a Christmas play in which the daughter of one character, played by Emma Thompson, was "First Lobster."

"There was more than one lobster present at the birth of Jesus?" she questioned.

Meanwhile, the Church of Lorb, has embraced the lobster Nativity. The faith describes itself as "conscientious creators with plans to create and worship our Leviathan Lobster God. Lobsters don't die of old age and typically can't keep up with their gigantic size as they continue to grow and molt their shells. Together we can make a difference. The faith's mission is to help save the planet."

The lobster Nativity is available online for $114.90.