Massachusetts high court blocks city from displaying Catholic saint statues honoring first responders

Massachusetts' highest court has blocked a city from installing two towering Catholic saint statues honoring police officers and firefighters outside a new public safety headquarters, ruling the monuments could improperly signal government support for one religion.

The Aug.

20 ruling upheld an October 2025 lower court decision that temporarily blocked the city from installing two 10-foot statues of St.

Michael the Archangel , the patron saint of police officers, and St.

Florian, the patron saint of firefighters.

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which is representing the city of Quincy, told Fox News Digital the legal battle is not over.

TRUMP DOJ EXPANDS RELIGIOUS LIBERTY PROTECTIONS AFTER MAJOR SUPREME COURT RULINGS "This ruling is disappointing but is only preliminary," Joe Davis, senior counsel at Becket and lead attorney for the city of Quincy, told Fox News Digital.

"Quincy chose these statues to honor the courage and sacrifice of its firefighters and police.

The City should not have to hide public art simply because some people may think of religion when they see it.

As the Court noted today, this is not the final word for these statues, and we will continue defending Quincy’s right to honor its heroes." Critics contend that placing religious figures outside a government building would violate the Massachusetts Constitution's protections on religious neutrality .

The controversy began after The Patriot Ledger reported that Quincy planned to install the two statues outside its new public safety headquarters.

The statues were crafted by a sculptor in Italy and chosen by Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch.

AMERICA’S FIREFIGHTER SHORTAGE HITS CRISIS LEVEL AS EMERGENCY CALLS TRIPLE, PUTTING LIVES AT RISK According to court documents , Koch said he did not pick the statues to advertise religion but to "honor, inspire and encourage our First Responders" as well as "boost morale" and "ensure [first responders’] lifesaving work would remain maximally effective." Critics of the statues said the plan had not been publicly disclosed during the building approval process and raised constitutional concerns.

The legal battle started in May 2025, when faith groups and taxpayers sued the City of Quincy and Koch in Norfolk Superior Court, saying that the intended installation of the statues outside the city's new public safety headquarters violated the Massachusetts Constitution's protections on religious neutrality.