Climbers damage Montreal's St. Joseph's Oratory as trespassing increases

MONTREAL - St. Joseph's Oratory, a major Catholic shrine in Montreal, is facing increased trespassing by urban explorers. Since last summer, climbers have been scaling the church's dome and cross, drawn by social media posts. Recently, a group of teenagers broke into the oratory, damaging doors and stealing a security camera. This incident marked a new level of trespassing, prompting staff to raise awareness about the dangers involved. Montreal police arrested three minors during the incident and are searching for others. The oratory has 24-hour security, but the large area makes it difficult to prevent all trespassing.