Supreme Court showdown looms over St Michael statue blocked from public safety building

A legal battle over whether a Massachusetts city can install statues of St.Michael the Archangel and St.

Florian outside its public safety headquarters could ultimately reach the U.S.Supreme Court, with attorneys on both sides arguing the case could shape the future of religious displays on government property.The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, who is representing the city of Quincy, told Fox News Digital that they are imminently expecting a decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Court."The ACLU’s position is anti-art and anti-history and we’re confident the justices will reject it," Joseph Davis, senior counsel at Becket and lead attorney for Quincy, told Fox News Digital in a statement.GOP LAWMAKERS URGE SUPREME COURT TO STRENGTHEN FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTIONS FOR STREET PREACHERSThe Supreme Court of the United States.

(Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)"We don’t hide away beautiful civic art just because it might make someone think of religion, and nothing in Massachusetts law says otherwise.Quincy has every right to honor its first responders with symbols that have inspired courage and sacrifice for generations," Davis added.The controversy started after The Patriot Ledger reported that Quincy planned to install two 10-foot bronze statues of St.

Michael the Archangel and St.Florian outside its new public safety headquarters.The two 10-foot bronze statues of St.

Michael and St.Florian were crafted by a sculptor in Italy and chosen by Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch.

St.Michael is the patron saint of police officers and while St.

Florian is the patron saint of firefighters.173 HOUSE DEMOCRATS VOTE AGAINST RESOLUTION HONORING POLICE AMID RISING ATTACKSStatue of St.Michael the archangel.

(Getty Images)Koch, according to court documents, said he did not choose the statues to advertise religion but to "honor, inspire, and encourage our First Responders" as well as "boost morale," and "ensure [first responders’] lifesaving work would remain maximally effective."...