Photo: Suzanne Sausville/WBZ NewsRadio
QUINCY, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A group of residents in Quincy is suing the city for spending millions of dollars to put statues of Saints Michael and Florian — the patron saints of police and fire — by the main entrance of the city's new public safety building.
The attorney for the plaintiffs, Rachel Davidson, argues that the statutes violate Article 3 of the state's Declaration of Rights by promoting one religion over others.
"To have two statues on the front of the building that are primarily associated with one religion is really conveying the message that there is a majority religion of Quincy," Davidson stated.
City attorney James Timmins argued that the two 10-foot-tall statues are simply works of art.
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"I didn't even know who Florian, the Roman soldier — I didn't realize he was a Catholic saint until I get into this case. So I don't see how some would find that offensive," Timmins said.
While the city of Quincy filed an affidavit to dismiss the lawsuit on behalf of Mayor Thomas Koch, Davidson said essential public safety personnel can pay homage to their preferred religious figure in their private time.
"Police and firefighters have every right to venerate these saints in their private capacity. But what cannot be the case is that our government can put these symbols on a building for all residents," Davidson remarked.
Judge William F. Sullivan said he will take both motions under advisement, but urged both sides to consider placing the statues by the police and fire entrances instead. The judge is expected to deliver a ruling on the preliminary injunction in the coming weeks.
WBZ NewsRadio's Suzanne Sausville (@WBZSausville) reports.