Michael the Archangel, St. Florian statues blocked at Massachusetts city building as state Supreme Court case looms

A legal battle is unfolding in Massachusetts over whether the city of Quincy can install statues of St. Michael and St. Florian outside its public safety headquarters.

The case centers on the city’s plan to place two 10-foot bronze statues outside the building. The statues were crafted by an Italian sculptor and were selected by Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch because St. Michael is traditionally regarded as the patron saint of police officers, and St. Florian is the patron saint of firefighters.

According to court filings, Koch said the purpose of the statues was not to promote religion but rather to "honor, inspire, and encourage our First Responders.” He also said the display was intended to “boost morale” and “ensure [first responders’] lifesaving work would remain maximally effective."

The proposal, however, prompted a lawsuit filed in 2025 by several Quincy residents who argue the display violates the Massachusetts Constitution’s protections on 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.

ACLU of Massachusetts said in its brief that "The statues, whose imagery is drawn directly from Catholic iconography, lack a predominantly secular purpose. The primary effect of permanently installing two new, oversized, overtly religious statues as the sole adornments on the City’s public safety building is to advance religion."

Jessie Rossman, legal director at the ACLU of Massachusetts, told Fox News that "The Massachusetts Declaration of Rights demands that our government remain neutral in matters of religion. This neutrality is precisely what allows the richly varied beliefs of our clients and others — including deeply held Christian beliefs — to flourish in cities like Quincy and across the Commonwealth."

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, representing the city of Quincy, told the outlet that they are awaiting a decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Court. Joseph Davis, senior counsel at Becket and lead attorney for the city, argued that "The ACLU’s position is anti-art and anti-history and we’re confident the justices will reject it.”