Portuguese Santo Cristo procession to proceed in Montreal

The annual Portuguese Santo Cristo procession is set to take place later this afternoon in Montreal after organizers said their permit was refused last week but that the march will still proceed. Organizing member Emanuel Linhares said the group began the permit process on Feb. 12 and received the refusal only about 10 days before the event, setting off a dispute over whether the gathering could go forward under Quebec’s updated rules on public religious expression.

Linhares said the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough cited Quebec’s new law on public prayer in rejecting the permit, even though the procession is described as a silent march with no prayers or religious chants. He said Montreal police confirmed last Wednesday that the procession could proceed despite the borough’s decision and would be on hand to ensure security.

The event is expected to draw at least 2,000 people from across Canada and the United States, according to Linhares. The procession will begin at Mission Santa Cruz Catholic Church on Rachel Street, travel along a route through the Plateau, and return to the church.

Organizers said they want the city to apply a consistent approach to future cultural and religious...