The highest court in Massachusetts has halted the installation of two statues of Catholic saints outside a new public safety headquarters. The ruling concludes that these monuments could suggest government favoritism towards one religion.
On August 20, the decision upheld a previous ruling from October 2025, which had temporarily prohibited the city from placing two 10-foot statues of St. Michael the Archangel, the patron saint of police officers, and St. Florian, the patron saint of firefighters, at the site.
The legal group Becket Fund for Religious Liberty is representing the city of Quincy in this case. They maintain that the legal proceedings are not finished, expressing their dissatisfaction with the preliminary ruling.
“This ruling is disappointing but is only preliminary,” stated Joe Davis, senior counsel at Becket and lead attorney for the city of Quincy. “Quincy chose these statues to honor the courage and sacrifice of its firefighters and police.”
The controversy began after The Patriot Ledger reported on Quincy’s plan to install the statues at the new public safety headquarters, causing critics to argue that the move violates the Massachusetts Constitution’s stance on religious neutrality.
Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch chose a sculptor in Italy to create the statues, aiming to inspire and honor the city’s first responders and enhance their morale.
In May 2025, several faith groups and taxpayers challenged this decision in Norfolk Superior Court. They claimed the installation would breach constitutional protection against government endorsement of religion.
The plaintiffs representing this stance include the ACLU of Massachusetts, along with the national ACLU, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and Cloherty & Steinberg LLP.
“The statues, whose imagery is drawn directly from Catholic iconography, lack a predominantly secular purpose,” wrote the ACLU of Massachusetts. “The primary effect of permanently installing two new, oversized, overtly religious statues as the sole adornments on the City’s public safety building is to advance religion.”
In contrast, the National Fraternal Order of Police and Massachusetts Fraternal Order of Police argue that St. Michael is appreciated by people of different faiths, not exclusively Christians.
Mayor Koch remains committed to honoring the bravery and service of Quincy’s first responders through these statues.
“Quincy’s firefighters and police put their lives on the line for this city every day. These statues were chosen to honor their bravery, service, and sacrifice,” Koch declared.
Jessie Rossman, the legal director at the ACLU of Massachusetts, emphasized the importance of religious neutrality in government actions.
“Our state constitution is clear: The government must remain neutral in matters of religion and must not elevate one faith above others. This ruling reaffirms those principles,” she said.
The legal battle continues, as both sides press on in Superior Court to settle the dispute over the statues.