ACLU asks Quincy to cancel patron saint statues at public building

Local News

“The decision on this has been made. The mayor in his authority makes decisions. He’s made this decision,” the mayor’s chief of staff said.

The ACLU of Massachusetts called on Quincy officials to “cancel” plans to build two 10-foot, bronze statues of patron saints at the city’s new Public Safety building Monday ahead of a city council meeting where officials were booed when defending the public art.

The Patriot Ledger first reported on the plans to add statues of St. Michael the Archangel and St. Florian, the patron saints of police and firefighters, respectively, to the facade of one of the most expensive buildings in Quincy’s history at $175 million, the Ledger reported. 

The ACLU wrote to Mayor Thomas Koch, advocating for “the separation of church and state, a principle which is among our nation’s oldest traditions.” 

“Such a failure would be particularly acute at a public safety building, where all Quincy residents should feel safe, welcomed, and equally respected by their government,” attorneys with the ACLU wrote. “It conveys the message that Quincy is a Catholic community and that non-Catholics do not belong or are less valued.”

The statues cost $850,000, and when asked if the City Council knew about the statutes, Koch previously said “plans evolve.” Chris Walker, Koch’s chief of staff, told councilors Monday that “this was ultimately and only the mayor’s decision,” referring to the statues.

“The decision on this has been made. The mayor in his authority makes decisions. He’s made this decision,” Walker said.

At a City Council meeting Monday evening, city officials gave an update on the construction. Walker called the statues “prominent, not dominant” on the facade and noted that the saints would cost about half a percent of the project’s overall budget.

“The depictions of Michael and Florian transcend any religious connotation,” Walker said, which was met with some audible groans before the council president banged his gavel. 

“These are historic, symbolic protectors of our first responders. Their connections to the police and fire services are deep and long standing. Their import in symbolism cannot be understated,” Walker continued. He was met with resounding applause from the first responders packed in the chamber.

Multiple councilors pointed to religious iconography at the Boston Public Library, the Massachusetts State House, and even in cemeteries in Quincy to defend the statues.

“I don’t hear anybody talking about where there’s plenty of religious imagery is in our public spaces, in our cemeteries,” Quincy City Council President Ian Cain said. Someone then called out from the audience, “that is so stupid.” “Thank you for coming,” Cain replied.

Cain said the council learned of the statues when the Ledger reported it, after someone anonymously tipped off the newspaper.

“This wasn’t meant to open up a discussion with the people who work in government, whether with the mayor’s office or with the City Council. This was someone trying to embarrass us, which I don’t appreciate,” Cain said.

Quincy Police Chief Mark Kennedy gave his opinion on the statues when asked by counselors.

“They’re symbols of the police and the fire department, and I think they are so much more than religious and political,” Kennedy said. “They remind each of us of the respective oaths that we took when we took this job, and again, from my perspective and I hope I’m speaking for the men and women of the police and the fire department when I say that I see them as symbols of protection, justice, bravery and sacrifice.”

Molly Farrar is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on education, politics, crime, and more.