Montreal Church Fined Over Event With US Christian Musician Files Lawsuit Against City

Christian musician Sean Feucht of California sings during a rally at the National Mall in Washington on Oct. 25, 2020. AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

A Montreal church has filed a legal challenge in response to a $2,500 ticket by the city over an event by a U.S. Christian musician.

The church, Ministerios Restauración Church, invited Sean Feucht to hold the event at their downtown Montreal church after Quebec City cancelled the permit for a public venue for his event. Officials cited Feucht’s views as a reason for the cancellation.

Feucht describes himself as a missionary, musician, and author on social media. He has been outspoken about gender issues.

When learning about the ticket, he said the Montreal church was simply “doing what the church does.” Feucht said the event was a worship service.

The Democracy Fund (TDF) said it is representing Ministerios Restauración Church, which has challenged the fine and asked for a judicial review by the Quebec Superior Court.

TDF says that, by issuing the ticket, the city abused its power and infringed upon the Charter rights of the Church.

TDF litigation director Mark Joseph said the case was the “first step” in defending the church and Canadian Christians’ rights to “freely and peacefully worship.”

“TDF-funded lawyers expect to argue at Superior Court that both the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantee these rights,” he said.

The lawsuit seeks to have the ticket expunged and a declaration that the church has a right to host praise and musical prayer events.

The city has yet to file a response, and no date has been set for the hearing, TDF said.

A spokesperson with the mayor’s office, Catherine Cadotte, previously told The Epoch Times the church did not have a “concert permit” for the July 25 performance. Cadotte said the church would be fined if it hosted the event.

Joseph previously told The Epoch Times that the city’s actions set a “dangerous precedent” that could be used against any religion.

“It’s very disturbing to us that this is the approach the state has taken, and we don’t understand the reasoning behind it,” he said.

Event Cancellations

The Montreal church was one of the Canadian stops for Feucht’s Let Us Worship tour, which saw several municipalities and Parks Canada cancel permits for public venues for the events.

Charlottetown and Moncton, N.B., cited security concerns over the cancellations. Permits were also cancelled in Quebec City and Gatineau, as well as Parks Canada, with officials saying Feucht’s views were the reason for cancellations.

Feucht’s team was able to find different venues for each stop.

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms said it was working with Feucht’s team to hold the entities that cancelled the permits accountable, noting lawsuits were expected.