QUINCY, Mass. —

A Norfolk Superior Court judge granted a preliminary injunction on Tuesday, temporarily blocking two religious statues from being placed outside of Quincy's new public safety building amid a pending lawsuit .

The two statues, which cost taxpayers around $850,000 total, depict Catholic saints Michael and Florian.

Opponents of the statues filed a lawsuit back in May, saying the two 10-foot-tall bronze statues violate the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights by promoting one religion over others.

Judge William F. Sullivan granted the plaintiffs a preliminary injunction while also denying the city's motion to dismiss the case.

"Victims and witnesses entering such a building often must overcome emotional and psychological hurdles, and intimidation to report crimes and seek

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