Mayor Defends Saints’ Statues on Public Safety Building, Accuses Opponents of Anti-Catholic Bias
The mayor of Quincy, Massachusetts, defends the inclusion of statues of St. Michael and St. Florian on the new public safety building. The mayor states the statues were chosen for their significance to police and firefighters. The mayor accuses opponents of the statues of anti-Catholic bias. Critics argue the statues favor Catholicism and make non-Catholics feel like second-class citizens.
4 months ago
Quincy, Massachusetts, Mayor Thomas Koch is defending his decision to install two 10-foot-high bronze statues of Catholic saints, St. Michael and St. Florian, on the city's new $175 million public safety building, which is scheduled to open in October 2025 2 3. The statues, costing approximately $850,000, have become the subject of a state lawsuit filed by 15 Quincy residents, the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State 2 3.
Mayor Koch, a practicing Catholic, asserts that his selection of St. Michael, the patron saint of police officers, and St. Florian, the patron saint of firefighters, was based on their global significance as symbols within police and fire communities 2 3. He claims the decision was not tied to their Catholic sainthood but rather aimed to boost morale and embody values such as truth, justice, and the triumph of good over evil 2 3. Koch has accused opponents of harboring "negative attitudes" toward Catholicism 1 2 3.
Critics argue that the statues are "icons with unmistakable religious significance" and that their installation on a public building impermissibly favors Catholicism over other religions, making non-Catholics feel like "second-class citizens" 2 3. They contend that the statues will "invoke and convey, on an ongoing basis, the City’s preference for Catholic religious doctrine," thereby advancing religion over non-religion and Catholicism over other Christian and non-Christian denominations 2 3. The lawsuit, filed on May 27, seeks an injunction to prevent the statues from being installed 2 3.
The legal dispute primarily revolves around the Massachusetts Constitution, specifically an 1833 amendment that disestablished the Congregational Church and declared "no subordination of any one sect or denomination to another shall ever be established by law" 2 3. In 1979, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) adopted the "Lemon test" from U.S. Supreme Court jurisprudence, adding a fourth criterion: whether a practice has "divisive political potential" 2 3.
While the U.S. Supreme Court formally disavowed the Lemon test in 2022, the Massachusetts SJC has not yet revisited this point 2 3. City Solicitor James Timmins argues that the Lemon test should no longer apply in Massachusetts due to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision 2 3. However, lawyers for the plaintiffs maintain that lower state courts must continue to apply the Lemon test, along with the "divisive political potential" standard, until the SJC rules otherwise 2 3. The outcome of this case, if appealed, could prompt the Massachusetts SJC to re-evaluate its interpretation of the state constitution regarding religious disputes 2 3.
What is the Church's stance on religious symbols in public spaces?
The Catholic Church upholds the importance of religious freedom, which includes the right to display religious symbols in public spaces. This right is rooted in the dignity of the human person and the freedom of conscience.
The Church teaches that religious freedom is a fundamental human right that should be recognized and protected by civil law. This freedom extends beyond private worship to include public expression of faith, both individually and communally. The display of religious symbols in public spaces is considered a legitimate exercise of this freedom, allowing believers to manifest their faith and contribute to the public square.
While advocating for the public display of religious symbols, the Church also recognizes the legitimate autonomy of the civil order. The Second Vatican Council's Declaration on Religious Freedom, Dignitatis Humanae, emphasizes that government should protect religious freedom for all citizens and groups, but it should not itself establish a religion or impede religious acts unless public order genuinely requires it. This means that the presence of religious symbols in public spaces should not be interpreted as an endorsement of a particular religion by the state, but rather as a reflection of the religious diversity and freedom of its citizens.
The interpretation and application of these principles can vary depending on the specific context and legal framework of a given society. However, the underlying principle remains that religious symbols in public spaces are a natural extension of religious freedom and a visible sign of the presence of faith in society. The Church encourages a balanced approach that respects both the freedom of religious expression and the common good, ensuring that the display of symbols does not lead to coercion or disrespect for those of different beliefs.
In summary, the Church's stance is that religious symbols in public spaces are a valid expression of religious freedom, a fundamental human right that should be protected and respected within the framework of a just civil order.