Quebec’s new law could restrict public prayer, challenging centuries-old Way of the Cross Good Friday traditions.
Quebec Christians Face Uncertain Future for Good Friday Marches
MONTREAL — For Christians in Quebec, this year’s Good Friday comes with a new twist: a law that could reshape how religious processions are held across the province. Just a day after the provincial legislature passed a sweeping secularism law, long-standing traditions like the Way of the Cross face an uncertain future.
In Montreal, hundreds of faithful followed Archbishop Christian Lépine through the city streets, carrying a large crucifix and stopping at historic churches. The march, filled with “prayer, reflection and silence,” marked Jesus’s journey to the cross — a ritual that may now face new hurdles under the law.
What the New Law Changes
The legislation, adopted on Thursday, extends Quebec’s ban on religious symbols in public workplaces to include daycare workers, bars public prayer rooms in public institutions, and now forbids public prayer unless a municipality grants explicit permission.
“No public road … or public park may be used for the purposes of collective religious practice unless a municipality authorizes, exceptionally and on a case-by-case basis,” the law states.
Martin Laliberté, head of the Assembly of Quebec Catholic Bishops, warns this law effectively treats religious citizens as second-class. He notes that street closures and public gatherings happen regularly for sports events, protests, and festivals — yet faith-based gatherings now face restrictions.
“If we do it for religious reasons, we don’t have the right,” he explained. “People in society who are believers become second-class citizens who don’t have the right, like any other citizen, to demonstrate in the name of their faith.”
Churches Wary of Municipal Approval Process
Previously, organizers coordinated with city officials but never needed explicit permission to hold marches. Now, approval from city councils becomes mandatory, leaving religious communities at the mercy of municipal discretion.
Laliberté emphasizes the law’s broader implications. By invoking powers to override parts of the Charter, the legislation shields itself from court challenges — meaning Quebecers’ previously protected rights to public expressions of faith could be curtailed.
“This is a big shift for us,” he said.
Organizers Hope for Continued Goodwill
John Zucchi, national director of Communion and Liberation Canada, which organizes Montreal’s Way of the Cross, said attendance has grown significantly since the pandemic, with nearly 1,000 participants last year. The processions are quiet, reflective, and meditative — far from noisy demonstrations.
“We’ve always communicated with police, and the city has been supportive,” he said. “We hope that goodwill continues.”
Zucchi also raised questions about how the law defines “public prayer,” noting that silent processions may not fit neatly into this category.
A Tradition at a Crossroads
For Quebec Christians, this year’s Good Friday marks more than the remembrance of a centuries-old ritual. It also signals the start of a new legal era, one that could challenge the way faith is expressed publicly. Whether municipalities will continue to permit these processions remains uncertain, leaving communities navigating both tradition and law.
