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Quincy barred from installing Catholic saint statues on public building
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has unanimously upheld a preliminary injunction preventing the city of Quincy from installing two 10-foot bronze statues of Catholic saints on the facade of its new $175 million public safety headquarters.
The statues, depicting St. Michael the Archangel and St. Florian, were commissioned by Mayor Tom Koch at a cost of $850,000. A group of residents, supported by the American Civil Liberties Union, filed a lawsuit alleging the installation violates Article 3 of the Massachusetts Constitution, which prohibits the government from favoring one religion over others.
In its decision, the high court found that the plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits, noting that the statues are large, brand new, and closely affiliated with a specific religion, which could convey implicit government support for Catholicism. The ruling affirms a lower court's decision to pause the installation while the litigation continues in Norfolk Superior Court.
Entities
American Civil Liberties Union · Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · Quincy · St. Michael the Archangel · Tom Koch
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The statues violate Article 3 of the Massachusetts Constitution regarding religious freedom and the separation of church and state. thequincysun.com · www.wbur.org
- [● 2 SOURCES] The statues depict St. Michael the Archangel and St. Florian. ca.news.yahoo.com · www.wbur.org
- [● 3 SOURCES] The city allocated $850,000 in taxpayer funds for the two 10-foot bronze statues. thequincysun.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · www.wbur.org
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Mayor Tom Koch argued the sculptures were intended to honor first responders rather than promote a specific religion. www.wbur.org
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court unanimously affirmed a preliminary injunction preventing Quincy from installing religious statues on a public building. thequincysun.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · www.wbur.org