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The fight in Quincy over two ten-foot bronze statues of St. Michael and St. Florian — commissioned to honor police and firefighters — has exploded into a full-blown legal battle after residents and civil liberties groups sued to stop the installation. Plaintiffs, backed by the ACLU and other organizations, argue the use of public property and taxpayer dollars to display overtly Catholic imagery violates the Massachusetts Constitution and excludes nonbelievers and those of other faiths.
The statues, created by an Italian sculptor and already paid for with roughly $761,000 to $850,000 of public money according to court filings and local reporting, were slated to greet anyone entering the new public safety building. Residents say the project was sprung on the public without meaningful notice or council debate, and that the cost and symbolism are unacceptable on city-funded property.
The lawsuit paints a picture of government officials elevating one faith over others, and it was filed by a multifaith group that includes Catholics, Jews, Unitarians, humanists, and atheists who say the statues send a chilling message about who belongs in their city. The ACLU and the Freedom From Religion Foundation joined the plaintiffs, arguing the statues improperly entangle the city with religion and could make residents uncomfortable when seeking essential services.
A Norfolk County Superior Court judge recently granted a preliminary injunction blocking the statues from being installed while the case proceeds, finding plaintiffs raised plausible claims that the display could convey a sectarian message and affect equal access to services. The judge noted that, regardless of the mayor’s intent, passersby and people seeking help may see the figures as religious symbols dominating a public entrance.
Conservative readers should be furious at both the heavy-handed tactics and the soft excuses from local officials who claim the figures are merely “symbols of protection.” Mayor Thomas Koch insists the statues honor first responders, but the hidden process and the decision to spend nearly a million dollars of taxpayers’ money on religiously themed art are questions of judgment and transparency that deserve harsh scrutiny.
Let’s be blunt: this is less about “separation of church and state” and more about a small band of activists weaponizing the courts to erase the nation’s religious heritage and shut down displays that reflect the faith and sacrifices of working-class Americans. First responders deserve our respect and recognition, but civic honor should be achieved transparently and in ways that unite, not divide, the community — not by turning a public building into what looks like a house of worship without public debate.
Mayor Koch says he will appeal the injunction and fight for the right to place the statues, so this controversy is far from over and will likely land on voters’ doorsteps. Hardworking citizens who believe in honoring faith, family, and public service should demand accountability from elected officials, push for public hearings, and make clear that neither activist lawyers nor backroom deals will dictate how our communities recognize courage and sacrifice.
