Montreal Church Launches Legal Challenge Over City’s Handling of US Christian Performer’s Event

Christian musician Sean Feucht of California preaches to the crowd during a rally at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza outside the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix, Ariz., on Oct. 19, 2024. Rebecca Noble/AFP via Getty Images

A Montreal church is seeking a judicial review of the city’s response to a summer event that featured U.S. Christian performer Sean Feucht.

The City of Montreal cancelled a Feucht event that had been scheduled for a public venue in July. When the church Ministerios Restauración/Église MR offered to host Feucht as a replacement venue for the event, the city fined the church $2,500, saying it did not have a permit for the event.

The application for judicial review is an extension of a legal challenge filed by the church against the $2,500 fine. The legal challenge was filed by The Democracy Fund (TDF), which is representing the church in the case.

The church is seeking $10,000 in damages, and a declaration from the court that the church’s Charter rights were violated. Feucht is not a plaintiff in the case, but is listed as a third party.

The lawsuit is also looking 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.

Mark Joseph, senior litigator for TDF, said the case is about protecting free speech and freedom of religion, and that the outcome of the decision could influence similar cases in the future.

“It’s important because the state looks to be censoring religious speech, or infringing on freedom of religion rights under the Charter, by contriving to issue a bylaw ticket,” he said.

The Epoch Times attempted to reach the City for comment but did not immediately hear back.

Several municipalities and Parks Canada cancelled permits for public events during the summer featuring Feucht, including the York Redoubt National Historic Site in Nova Scotia, Charlottetown, Quebec City, and Gatineau, Que. The events were part of Feucht’s “Let Us Worship” North American tour.

Parks Canada and the municipalities primarily cited safety concerns amid planned protests as the reason for cancelling the events, while Quebec City called Feucht “controversial” when citing its reason for the cancellation.

Feucht has described himself on social media as a missionary, musician, and author and has spoken out against gender ideology and abortion.

Montreal city officials previously said that he expresses hateful and discriminatory speech.

A spokesperson with the mayor’s office told The Epoch Times prior to the event that the church, Ministerios Restauración/Église MR, did not have a concert permit for the July 25 performance, and it had been directed not to hold the event.

The spokesperson, Catherine Cadotte, said in an email that violation notices would be issued “if the concert continues.” She also noted that the police had been “mobilized to enforce the regulations.”

Quebec City Lawsuit

A lawsuit has also been filed against Quebec City after it cancelled a permit for a Feucht booking at ExpoCité on July 25. At the time, a City spokesperson told The Epoch Times Feucht’s appearance had not been mentioned as part of the contract between the concert promoter and the venue.

“With the new information brought to its attention, ExpoCité has decided to terminate the contract and therefore the holding of the event on its site,” the city previously told The Epoch Times in an email.

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) announced the lawsuit on behalf of non-profit Burn 24/7 in a release on Nov. 17.

It said that Burn 24/7 paid a rental fee of $2,609.93 on July 14, and noted the city cancelled the lease on July 23. The lawsuit said the city issued a letter to the non-profit that said clauses related to “illegal solicitation” and “use of premises” gave it the authority to terminate the contract.

The lawsuit also said the letter from the city noted that an “artist who generates significant controversy has consequences for ExpoCité’s reputation.”

Those representing Burn 24/7 argue that the city’s decision is an example of discrimination based on religion and political opinion.

A spokesperson told The Epoch Times the city does not comment on active legal cases.

The lawsuit is seeking a judicial declaration that an infringement on rights occurred, as well as $5,000 in damages. It was filed on Nov. 14.

The Canadian Press contributed to this article.