A decision from the Massachusetts Supreme Court is imminent in a case challenging the city of Quincy's plan to install two bronze statues of St. Michael the Archangel and St. Florian outside its new public safety headquarters. Attorneys for both sides suggest the outcome could have far-reaching consequences for the presence of religious displays on public property, potentially leading to a U.S. Supreme Court review.
The controversy began when Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch proposed the installation of the 10-foot statues, sculpted in Italy. St. Michael is recognized as the patron saint of police officers, and St. Florian holds the same designation for firefighters. Koch stated the statues were intended to honor and inspire first responders, boost morale, and acknowledge their life-saving work, rather than to advertise religion.
However, a coalition of faith groups, residents, and taxpayers, represented by the ACLU of Massachusetts, the national ACLU, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, filed a lawsuit in May 2025. They argue the installation violates the Massachusetts Constitution's mandate for religious neutrality.
In court documents, the ACLU contended that the statues, drawn from Catholic iconography, lack a predominantly secular purpose and that their permanent placement on a public safety building advances religion. Conversely, briefs filed by the National Fraternal Order of Police and the Massachusetts Fraternal Order of Police argue that St. Michael is revered across various faiths and is a cherished symbol of courage and sacrifice for first responders of all backgrounds.
Joseph Davis, senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which is representing Quincy, expressed confidence that the court would reject the ACLU's position, stating that Massachusetts law does not prohibit civic art with religious undertones and that the city has the right to honor its first responders with historically significant symbols.
Jessie Rossman, legal director at the ACLU of Massachusetts, countered that the state's Declaration of Rights requires government neutrality in religious matters, a principle that allows diverse beliefs to flourish. She asserted that under the established legal test for such claims, the proposed statues, as the sole adornments on a government building providing essential services to all residents, would violate the state constitution.
Koch's office has declined to comment pending the court's decision. The legal dispute highlights an ongoing tension between secular governance and the public expression of faith, with the upcoming ruling expected to clarify the boundaries for religious symbols in civic spaces.