Clandestine Climbers Flock to Montreal’s St. Joseph’s Oratory, Damaging Historic Site

Clandestine Climbers Flock to Montreal’s St. Joseph’s Oratory, Damaging Historic Site
A statue of Brother Andre is shown next to Saint Joseph's Oratory in Montreal, on Feb. 19, 2010. The Canadian Press/Graham Hughes
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A Catholic shrine that is one of Montreal’s most recognizable landmarks is attracting a new kind of pilgrim.

Since last summer, St. Joseph’s Oratory has been struggling to deal with a steady stream of urban explorers—trespassers, often young, looking to scale the cross that sits atop the church’s massive dome.