Tiny Virgin Mary statue sparks neighborhood dispute
DETROIT – Every morning, each member of the Samona family stops to pray in front of a small statue of the Virgin Mary that adorns the flower bed in the yard of their Michigan home.
They pause again in front of the tiny statue when they return home at day's end. It's been part of the family's routine since 2003, when they moved into the Tollgate Woods neighborhood in Novi.
On Tuesday, the Samonas received a letter from their homeowners association, stating that the Virgin Mary figure and other pieces of statuary in their yard were in violation of neighborhood policies.
The family believes it's discrimination.
"There is no doubt in my mind that this is an attack on our religion," said Joseph Samona, who lives at the home with his parents."We have already received an outpouring of support from friends and family, and we are prepared to fight this tooth and nail."
It's not the first time the group has targeted their religious decorations.
In 2005, they tried to make the family remove their lawn nativity scene. They pushed back, bringing in a lawyer and drawing widespread media attention until the association backed off.
In 2009, the homeowners association asked them to remove the Virgin Mary statue. The family never responded and the group never followed up on its request.
Tollgate Homeowners Association representative Debbie Laudermilch did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
The letter said the family is in violation of the association's bylaws but doesn't cite the specific section.
However, the group's "Declaration of Easements, Covenants and Restrictions" found online notes that "no lawn statues, ornaments or outdoor art shall be placed on any lot without prior approval," which may be withheld for "purely aesthetic reasons."
Samona said the family is considering taking legal action.
But one real estate lawyer said the case might be complicated.
“It would only be illegal if the homeowners association was arbitrary in its enforcement of the rule,” said attorney Mark Linton of the Advanta Law Firm in Southfield. “They have the right to prohibit homeowners from putting up these items in their yards.”
As far as city ordinances go, Novi spokeswoman Sheryl Walsh said that no ordinance exists prohibiting a statue of a religious nature.
“If the homeowners association came to the city asking for support, the city would not be able to do that because this rule is not a city ordinance,” she said.
Samona said his parents are deeply religious and deeply involved in their local faith community. They immigrated to the U.S. from Iraq decades ago to escape religious persecution for their Catholicism.
"We're just looking to let people know that no matter what your faith is – whether it's Catholicism, Islam, Judaism – don't let anyone tell you that you have to back down from that," Samona said.
The Tollgate Woods homeowners association's letter to the Samona family, which is accusing the association of religious discrimination. Names and addresses have been removed from the document.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tiny Virgin Mary statue sparks neighborhood dispute
