{"id":32744,"date":"2026-08-28T07:32:23","date_gmt":"2026-08-28T11:32:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/?p=32744"},"modified":"2026-08-28T07:32:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T11:32:23","slug":"massachusetts-high-court-blocks-catholic-saint-statues-honoring-police-firefighters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/2026\/08\/massachusetts-high-court-blocks-catholic-saint-statues-honoring-police-firefighters","title":{"rendered":"Massachusetts High Court Blocks Catholic Saint Statues Honoring Police, Firefighters"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Massachusetts’ highest court has blocked a city from installing two towering statues of Catholic saints meant to honor police officers and firefighters, setting up an ongoing legal fight over religious expression on government property.<\/p>\n

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled<\/a> August 20 that Quincy cannot, for now, move forward with plans to place 10-foot statues of St. Michael the Archangel and St. Florian outside its new public safety headquarters. St. Michael is traditionally recognized as the patron saint of police officers, while St. Florian is the patron saint of firefighters.<\/p>\n

The ruling upheld an October 2025 lower court decision temporarily preventing the statues from being installed. The case will now continue in Superior Court.<\/p>\n

Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch selected the statues, which an Italian sculptor created. According to court documents, Koch said his goal was not to promote Catholicism but to recognize the men and women who protect the city.<\/p>\n

The statues were intended to “honor, inspire and encourage our First Responders,” Koch said, as well as “boost morale.”<\/p>\n

“Quincy’s firefighters and police put their lives on the line for this city every day, and these statues were chosen to honor their bravery, service and sacrifice,” Koch said following the ruling.<\/p>\n

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which is representing<\/a> Quincy, stressed that the ruling is preliminary and vowed to continue defending the city.<\/p>\n

“Quincy chose these statues to honor the courage and sacrifice of its firefighters and police,” Becket senior counsel Joe Davis said. “The city should not have to hide public art simply because some people may think of religion when they see it.”<\/p>\n

Opponents argue that permanently placing overtly Catholic figures outside a government building violates the Massachusetts Constitution’s protections regarding religious neutrality.<\/p>\n

The dispute began<\/a> after news of the planned statues became public in early 2025. In May of that year, faith groups and Quincy taxpayers sued the city and Koch. The plaintiffs are represented by organizations including the ACLU of Massachusetts, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Freedom From Religion Foundation.<\/p>\n

“The statues, whose imagery is drawn directly from Catholic iconography, lack a predominantly secular purpose,” the ACLU of Massachusetts argued<\/a> in a court brief. It said displaying them as the “sole adornments” on the public safety building would have the effect of advancing religion.<\/p>\n

Supporters, however, contend the saints have long-standing significance to the professions the statues are intended to honor.<\/p>\n

The National Fraternal Order of Police and Massachusetts Fraternal Order of Police argued in a brief<\/a> that the symbolism extends beyond Catholicism.<\/p>\n

“First responders of all stripes, religious creeds, and political affiliations \u2014 and not just Catholics or Christians \u2014 cherish both saints for their symbolic importance to the profession,” the groups said.<\/p>\n

Jessie Rossman, legal director of the ACLU of Massachusetts, praised the court’s decision, saying the state constitution requires government to “remain neutral in matters of religion” and not “elevate one faith above others.”<\/p>\n

For Quincy officials, however, the fight is far from finished.<\/p>\n

“This decision is disappointing, but it is preliminary,” Koch said, “and we will continue to fight for the ability to commemorate our first responders as the law permits.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Massachusetts’ highest court has blocked a city from installing two towering statues of Catholic saints meant to honor police officers and firefighters, setting up an ongoing legal fight over religious expression on government property. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled August 20 that Quincy cannot, for now, move forward with plans to place 10-foot statues…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":516,"featured_media":32747,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32744","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nMassachusetts High Court Blocks Catholic Saint Statues Honoring Police, Firefighters<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Massachusetts' high court blocks Quincy from displaying Catholic saint statues honoring police and firefighters outside a city building.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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