Recommendation for the Removal of the Crucifix

City hall's crucifix faces potential removal, as suggested by a council-appointed committee. A summer letter to Mayor Bruno Marchand set forth this proposal, and he is now tasked with making a definitive decision.

, and Administrator

2025 September 14 . 12:47 AM

2 min read

Church panel proposes to take down the cross.

Recommendation for the Removal of the Crucifix

Quebec City's City Hall Crucifix in the Spotlight Again

A recommendation to remove the crucifix from Quebec City's city hall has been made by a committee appointed by the municipal council. The recommendation, sent to Mayor Bruno Marchand in June, follows a letter sent by the Quebec Secular Movement in January, urging the Marchand administration to take action.

The crucifix, currently displayed prominently on a wall to the left of the council president's seat, was introduced under the Pelletier administration in the early 1980s. However, it was not present at the inauguration of city hall in 1896.

The presence of the religious symbol in the council chamber has been a recurring source of debate. Some argue that it goes against the principles of religious neutrality of the state and the separation between the state and religions, as stated by Jean-François Roberge's ministry responsible for democratic institutions.

According to Frédéric Smith, a historian consulted by the Commission consultative pour une ville inclusive, the crucifix was introduced in a context where politicians wanted to mark their alliance with the Catholic Church. This aligns with the introduction of the crucifix in 1936, a time when socio-political and religious factors played a significant role.

The crucifix currently displayed was sculpted in 1976 by artist Jacques Bourgault. Quebec City is the largest municipality in the province still displaying a crucifix in its council chamber, with only seven municipalities in Quebec still having a "religious object" in their council chamber, representing less than 4%.

In the 2021 municipal elections, four out of five candidates, including Marchand, expressed a desire to keep the crucifix. However, the committee's recommendation has sparked renewed discussion on the issue.

Daniel Baril, the president of the Quebec Secular Movement, emphasises that a crucifix is not just a religious symbol but a religious symbol specific to Christianity, particularly associated with Catholicism. Baril also adds that the so-called patrimonial character of the crucifix cannot be a criterion justifying its retention.

The cross in the town hall chapel of Quebec City was introduced by Bishop Joseph-Octave Plessis in the early 19th century. The debate surrounding the crucifix in the city hall, however, does not seem to have a specific alliance between Quebec City and the Catholic Church mentioned in the provided text.

Notably, both the National Assembly and the City of Montreal have removed the crucifix from the chamber where elected officials sit. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether Quebec City will follow suit.