A mayor from a small town near Boston has sparked controversy with his plan to erect two statues of Catholic Saints, a move that a lawsuit claims involves using $850,000 of public funds.
Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch’s initiative to place these statues at a new public safety building has led to a rift in this city, which is situated less than ten miles from Boston.
Opponents of the project deem it a misuse of resources and argue it potentially breaches the principle of separating church and state.
In May, a group of local residents took legal action against the mayor to challenge his proposal.
Recently, a county judge issued a preliminary injunction that temporarily halts Mayor Koch’s efforts to install the statues of Saint Michael and Saint Andrew.
Despite the legal challenge, Quincy’s fire and police departments, which will be based in the new facility, have shown their support for the longstanding mayor, as reported by the Washington Post.
‘These figures reach beyond any religious tradition and have long been embraced by first responders around the world as symbols of courage and protection,’ said Koch.
In the legal filing, Judge William F. Sullivan disagreed, despite pressure to dismiss the suit, per WGBH.
‘The placement of two statues seemingly befitting a house of worship, on the exterior facade of a public safety building, overshadowing public access points, indicates the primary effect is likely to convey a religious message,’ he wrote.
Quincy, Massachusetts Mayor Thomas Koch is in hot water over plans to erect Catholic Saint Statues
Statues of Saint Florian (left) and Saint Michael (right) are set to be erected on a new government building
The city began designing the public safety building in 2017.
The 120,000 square foot space is expected to open this fall. It will be home to Quincy’s fire, police, emergency operations and technology departments.
Plans for the space did not become public until February of this year, when Koch’s proposition for the statues was revealed in The Patriot Ledger.
Just two weeks later, residents flooded a town meeting to express both their support and distaste for the idea, per the legal filing.
The sculpture will be 10-feet tall and cast in Bronze. They were made in Italy, per the lawsuit, by sculptor Sergey Eylanbekov who designed statues for the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial.
Almost immediately after the plan for the statues was announced, members of the community started a petition against it.
‘Though religious subjects are not illegal, they are inappropriate for a diverse city such as Quincy,’ it read, now with more than 1,700 signatures
‘The secrecy surrounding the project from its inception is antithetical to good governance. The cost of almost $1 million is a reckless misuse of our taxes.’
Residents of Quincy are divided over whether or not the mayor should be allowed to put in the statues
Religious leaders in Quincy’s Interfaith Network also spoke out against the sculptures in April.
‘As leaders of different religious traditions, we appreciate that saints play that role for many of our Roman Catholic neighbors,’ wrote 19 faith leaders in a public letter to the mayor.
‘However, our diverse city is composed of many people of faith and those who do not identify with any religious tradition. No single religious tradition should be elevated in a publicly funded facility.
‘Erecting these statues sends a message that there are insiders and outsiders in this community. We are confident this is not the message our City or our first responders want to send.’
Mayor Koch defended his decision, ‘these figures reach beyond any religious tradition,’ he said
Police and fire unions attempted to join the lawsuit in support of Koch, but Sullivan denied their emergency motion.
‘Florian and the fireman’s prayer provide us with emotional support to carry out our duty to protect lives and property while putting our own lives at risk,’ said fire union leader Thomas Bowes in the filing.
Police union president Gregg Hartnett called Saint Michael, ‘both the symbol and model of our profession’ in the court document.
The city has 30 days from Sullivan’s October 14 injection filing to file an appeal. From there each side will have the opportunity to respond before the judge makes his final ruling.
For now the statues will remain in Italy. It’s unclear what will happen to them if the lawsuit is successful.
The Daily Mail reached out to Koch and Sullivan for comment.
