Quincy Statue Controversy May Reach Supreme Court
A legal struggle is brewing over the ability of the Massachusetts city of Quincy to place statues of St. Michael and St. Florian outside its public safety headquarters. This case has the potential to go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, with advocates on both sides claiming it could redefine the rules surrounding religious symbols on government property.
The Beckett Fund for Religious Freedom, which represents Quincy, indicated that a decision from the Massachusetts Supreme Court is forthcoming. Joseph Davis, the senior counsel for Beckett and the lead attorney for Quincy, expressed optimism, stating, “The ACLU’s stance is anti-art and anti-history, and we believe the judge will dismiss it.” He further emphasized the importance of public art and the city’s right to honor its first responders with symbols of courage and sacrifice.
The issue came to light when the Patriot Ledger reported that Quincy intends to install two 10-foot bronze statues, crafted by Italian artists, depicting St. Michael the Archangel and St. Florian. The mayor, Thomas Koch, selected these statues with the intention of honoring police officers and firefighters, noting that St. Michael represents the former while St. Florian symbolizes the latter.
Koch stated that his choice was not to promote any religious beliefs but rather to “honor, inspire, and encourage first responders” and to help boost morale and safety among them. The city aims for the rescue operations to be as effective as they can be.
Critics argue that the plans were not properly communicated during the building approval process, raising concerns about constitutional rights. The legal battle ignited in May 2025, when a group of Quincy residents, consisting of individuals from various faiths, filed a lawsuit against the city and Koch. They claimed that placing a religious statue outside the public safety headquarters infringes upon the religious neutrality clause in the Massachusetts Constitution.
The plaintiffs are represented by a coalition that includes the ACLU of Massachusetts, the national ACLU, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, and others. In its arguments, the ACLU contends that the statues’ iconography is rooted in Catholicism and lacks a primarily secular purpose, thereby promoting religion through their presence on city property.
Nevertheless, support groups for the statues argue that figures like St. Michael are valued by a wide range of faiths, not exclusively by Christians. The National Fraternal Order of Police and the Massachusetts Fraternal Order of Police highlight that St. Michael holds significance for first responders across various backgrounds.
Koch’s office has refrained from commenting further while awaiting the court’s decision. Meanwhile, ACLU Legal Director Jesse Rothman reinforced the necessity of government neutrality in religious matters, stating that such neutrality allows diverse beliefs to flourish in Quincy and beyond. He pointed to a long-standing legal review from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court that maintains the installation of these statues as unconstitutional due to the essential services the building represents for all residents.
