Massachusetts Court Blocks Religious Statues at Quincy Public Safety Building

Massachusetts’ highest court has blocked the installation of two statues honoring police officers and firefighters outside a new public safety headquarters in the city of Quincy. The court ruled that these statues could improperly indicate government endorsement of a particular religion.

The decision, issued on August 20, affirmed an October 2025 lower court ruling. This earlier decision temporarily prevented the city from placing two 10-foot statues of St. Michael the Archangel, the patron saint of police, and St. Florian, the patron saint of firefighters.

Joe Davis, senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, stated, “This ruling is disappointing but is only preliminary.”

Quincy selected these statues to honor its first responders’ bravery and sacrifice. The city asserts that public art should not be concealed merely because of its religious connotations. Davis emphasized that the court’s decision is not the final verdict, and efforts to honor Quincy’s heroes will continue.

Critics argue that installing religious figures at a government site violates Massachusetts’ constitutional requirements for religious neutrality. The criticism intensified after The Patriot Ledger revealed Quincy’s plans for the statues.

The statues, crafted in Italy, were chosen by Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch. He has stated that the statues were not intended to promote religion but to honor and motivate first responders, aiming to bolster morale and recognition of their life-saving work.

This legal battle began in May 2025 when faith groups and taxpayers sued Quincy and Mayor Koch. They claimed that the statues at the new public safety headquarters breached constitutional protections for religious neutrality.

The plaintiffs are represented by the ACLU of Massachusetts, the national ACLU, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and Cloherty & Steinberg LLP.

The Massachusetts ACLU argued that the Catholic iconography-focused statues lacked a primarily secular purpose, suggesting their intended installation promoted religion.

The National Fraternal Order of Police and the Massachusetts Fraternal Order of Police counterargued that Saint Michael is cherished by people of various faiths. Thus, the statues’ significance transcends specific religious boundaries.

In response, Mayor Koch stated that Quincy’s firefighters and police daily risk their lives, and the statues recognize their bravery and service. He expressed disappointment in the decision but remains committed to legally commemorating the service of first responders.

Jessie Rossman, ACLU of Massachusetts’ legal director, remarked, “These principles are crucial for a diverse society where people of all faiths and no faith can prosper.” Rossman stands by the plaintiffs’ assertion that installing the statues would contradict the state’s constitutional ideals.

Rachel del Guidice, a culture reporter for Fox News, covers the convergence of politics, faith, family, and American culture.