Quincy Saint Statue Case Heads to State Supreme Court

Oral arguments scheduled in legal battle over public display of Catholic statues

Mar. 31, 2026 at 8:19pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic street scene with a single streetlight casting warm, diagonal shadows across the pavement, conceptually representing the quiet, contemplative mood of a legal dispute over the separation of church and state.The Massachusetts Supreme Court will soon weigh in on the legal battle over religious symbols on public property in Quincy.Quincy Today

The Massachusetts Supreme Court has set a date to hear oral arguments in a lawsuit filed by 15 Quincy residents challenging the city's decision to install statues of two Catholic saints, St. Michael and St. Florian, at the new public safety headquarters. The plaintiffs argue the statues, paid for with public funds, violate the separation of church and state.

Why it matters

This case could set an important legal precedent on the display of religious symbols on public property, with implications for similar debates in other communities. The outcome will test the boundaries of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment and how courts apply the Lemon test for determining if government action violates the separation of church and state.

The details

In May 2025, the group of Quincy residents sued the city, arguing the statues of the Catholic saints commissioned by Mayor Tom Koch violate the Establishment Clause. The case will now go before the state's highest court to determine whether the Lemon test or a different legal framework should be used to evaluate the constitutionality of the statues' placement on public property.

  • Oral arguments before the Massachusetts Supreme Court are scheduled for May 2026.

The players

Quincy Residents

A group of 15 Quincy residents who filed a lawsuit challenging the city's decision to install statues of Catholic saints on public property.

Tom Koch

The mayor of Quincy who commissioned the statues of St. Michael and St. Florian for the new public safety headquarters.

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What’s next

The Massachusetts Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case in May 2026 and issue a ruling that could set a legal precedent on the display of religious symbols on public property.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate over the separation of church and state and the appropriate role of religious symbols in the public sphere. The court's decision could have far-reaching implications for similar disputes in other communities.