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Massachusetts court blocks Quincy from displaying saint statues
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has upheld a preliminary injunction blocking the city of Quincy from installing two 10-foot bronze statues of Catholic saints at its new public safety headquarters.
The statues, depicting St. Michael the Archangel and St. Florian, were intended by Mayor Thomas Koch to honor police officers and firefighters. However, an ACLU-backed coalition of plaintiffs argued that the religious iconography violates the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights by signaling government preference for one religion.
The court ruled that the plaintiffs are likely to succeed in their claim that the monuments could improperly convey government support for a specific faith. The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, representing Quincy, described the ruling as preliminary and stated the city intends to continue defending its right to display the art.
Entities
ACLU · Becket Fund for Religious Liberty · City of Quincy · Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · Thomas Koch
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The City of Quincy intended the statues to honor and boost the morale of first responders rather than advertise religion. offthepress.com · nypost.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Legal counsel for Quincy stated the ruling is preliminary and the city will continue to defend its right to honor heroes. offthepress.com · nypost.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court upheld a preliminary injunction blocking the installation of two religious statues. offthepress.com · legalinsurrection.com · nypost.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The proposed statues include 10-foot bronze figures of St. Michael the Archangel and St. Florian. legalinsurrection.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The statues were crafted by a sculptor in Italy. offthepress.com · nypost.com