US Catholic school features infamous Auschwitz slogan on parade float

Galen Shelly said he constructed the mock gate himself after being unable to find suitable cemetery props and said he was inspired by a recent visit to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

A Pennsylvania Catholic diocese issued an apology after a float featuring a replica of the Auschwitz concentration camp gate appeared in a local parade, sparking outrage in the Jewish community.

The display, created by St. Joseph Catholic School, included the infamous German phrase “Arbeit macht frei,” which once hung over the entrance to the Nazi death camp.

Diocese officials said the float’s inclusion of imagery linked to the murder of millions of Jews during the Holocaust was “deeply offensive and unacceptable.”

They clarified that the approved design had not contained such elements, but said that did not lessen the seriousness of what occurred.

In a statement, the diocese extended its apologies to Jewish residents and affirmed that Catholics “stand firmly against antisemitism, hatred, and prejudice, which are rampant in our society.”

The church pledged to use the incident as a chance for reflection and education, saying it would collaborate with the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition and the Anti-Defamation League to teach students about the Holocaust and the dangers of antisemitism.

Church leaders described their relationship with the Jewish community as one built on “deep respect, friendship, and shared faith in God.”

The float’s designer, identified on social media as Galen Shelly, expressed regret for the backlash, saying his intent had been misinterpreted.

He explained that he constructed the mock gate himself after being unable to find suitable cemetery props and said he was inspired by a recent visit to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. His goal, he claimed, was to send “a positive spiritual message” about remembering history.

Shelly said the German phrase was meant metaphorically, representing the misguided notion that salvation can be earned through “works” alone. He apologized to both the school and Metcalf Family Cleaning, the company that provided the vehicle towing the float.

Metcalf Cleaning also issued a statement, saying it had volunteered to participate in the parade but had no role in designing the float. “At the time, we were unaware of the meaning and significance of the phrase,” the company said. “We recognize that we should have looked more carefully and are deeply sorry for our oversight.”