Muzzle follow-up: The SJC stops Quincy’s mayor from erecting two Catholic statues on public property

In May 2025, I gave a New England Muzzle Award to Thomas Koch, the mayor of Quincy, Massachusetts, for attempting to install two religious statues at the city’s new public safety facility. Now the state’s Supreme Judicial Court has unanimously upheld a preliminary injunction blocking the statues.

The ACLU of Massachusetts, representing a number of local residents who sued the city, reports that the injunction will remain in effect while the case proceeds in Norfolk Superior Court. As the SJC said in its ruling, the injunction is appropriate because “the plaintiffs have demonstrated a
likelihood of success on the merits.” Jessie Rossman, legal director of the state ACLU, said in a statement:

Here in Massachusetts, our state constitution is clear: the government must remain neutral in matters of religion and must not elevate one faith above others. With today’s landmark ruling, the Supreme Judicial Court affirms those principles, which are the essential foundation of a pluralistic society where people of all faiths and no faith can flourish. As Quincy residents and taxpayers, our clients believe that installing these plainly religious statues would undermine those ideals. We are proud to represent these courageous plaintiffs, and we look forward to continuing to litigate the merits of this case in Superior Court.

As Rossman notes, the two 10-foot statues of St. Michael and St. Florian weren’t just religious icons, or even just Christian icons; they were specifically associated with the Catholic Church. Moreover, this isn’t some community group trying to put, say, a crèche on the town common during Christmas. It would have had the official imprimatur of the city.

Joining the state ACLU in representing the plaintiffs are Americans United for the Separation of Church and State and the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

Adam Gaffin has a detailed breakdown of the ruling at Universal Hub.

Peter Blandino, reporting for The Patriot Ledger, quotes Koch as saying:

Quincy’s firefighters and police put their lives on the line for this city every day, and these statues were chosen to honor their bravery, service, and sacrifice. This decision is disappointing, but it is preliminary, and we will continue to fight for the ability to commemorate our first responders as the law permits.

In other words, rather than bowing to the inevitable, Koch will continue to spend taxpayer funds on a pointless effort to knock down the First Amendment wall separating church and state.