Quincy Residents Challenge Catholic Statues at Public Safety Building in Court

A legal dispute is underway in Quincy, Massachusetts, over the city’s decision to install two 10-foot-tall bronze statues of Catholic Saints Michael and Florian, patrons of police and firefighters, at the new public safety building. Plaintiffs, a diverse group of residents represented by the ACLU, argue that the statues violate the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights by promoting one religion over others and spending over $850,000 in taxpayer funds without public input. They contend the statues send a message of religious preference and exclusion, with some residents, including Catholics, finding the imagery alienating and divisive. The city, led by Mayor Thomas Koch, defends the statues as secular symbols honoring first responders and public art, asserting no religious intent. The case is pending before Norfolk Superior Court Judge William F. Sullivan, who is considering motions for dismissal and preliminary injunctions, with arguments also involving police and fire unions supporting the statues. The ruling will address issues related to the separation of church and state, equal protection under the law, and the use of public funds for religiously symbolic art.