A church is facing a $2,500 fine from the City of Montreal for hosting a July 25 worship service without a permit, an event that turned chaotic when anti-Christian protesters threw smoke bombs into the sanctuary.
Ministerios Restauración Church had invited American Christian musician and activist Sean Feucht as part of his “Revive in 25” tour. Revival tours are classic Christian events that always include worship music. City officials classified the gathering as a “concert,” requiring a special event permit, which they say the church failed to obtain.
City spokesperson Catherine Cadotte said the fine was issued for violating municipal bylaws regulating use of buildings and land for certain activities. The ticket cites “occupation of a lot, building, or land in a sector of use other than those provided for in the regulations.”
While the scene inside the church during the service was peaceful, with a few dozen worshippers singing and praying under the watch of a row of police officers, protests grew outside. According to Rebel News reporter Alexandra Lavoie, Feucht was met by protesters when arriving at the church, and one individual, now identified through video footage as a large man, threw two smoke bombs in at Feucht as he entered. One was detonated inside the building.
“Despite a police presence, the suspect was not detained,” Lavoie reported, adding that security video of the incident has now been made public. There appeared to be little interest in tracking down the suspect, as police seemed more focused on stopping Feucht from speaking.
The Democracy Fund, a Canadian constitutional rights charity, has taken up the church’s legal defense, arguing the fine is an infringement of religious freedom under both the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.
Mark Joseph, litigation director for the Democracy Fund, accused the city of acting in bad faith. “The state has apparently prejudged this matter, suggesting, improperly and without evidence, that peaceful Christian worshippers were engaged in hate speech. This is highly inappropriate,” Joseph said.
A spokesperson for Montreal’s mayor’s office defended the city’s stance, saying: “This show runs counter to the values of inclusion, solidarity, and respect that are championed in Montreal. Freedom of expression is one of our fundamental values, but hateful and discriminatory speech is not acceptable in Montreal.”
No arrest has been made of the person who threw the smoke bomb inside the church.
Feucht is the founder of the Let Us Worship movement. He ran as a Republican in California’s 3rd congressional district primary in 2020, losing in the primary to Tamika Hamilton.
The faster we distance ourselves from Canada, the better.
Better look around M A, Alberta is on the move to depart and the talk is becoming a US State. B,C. Province is making similar noise but trail Alberta in terms of activity. Alberta already is on the move with the petition as the first step.
Saskatchewan and Manitoba are not far behind! So you’re concern appears to be in jeopardy were these Providences to make this a factual effort.
By the way, President Trump is said to offered Alberta nonrecognition as a ‘Nation’ if the breakaway comes to fact. According, an existing established Nation (U.S?)recognizing a new Nation apparently is a confirmation making the action a confirmed acknowledgement.
I’ll believe all that when it happens. And like waiting for Jesus to return, I’m not waiting up nights.
Oh, and no President, not even Trump, can unilaterally add states. That’s a Congressional power.
Not sure where you get your information from, but you need a better source.
Canadian heathens think like stone-agers. No longer the civil society I grew up in.
Sorry: “By the way, President Trump is said to offered Alberta recognition as ‘Nation'”
Nuts are everywhere. Violent left wing screw balls.
“First they came for…Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.” And so, few will speak out, even if they disagree with what is happening inside a privately owned building. Soon, they (the govt) will come for more and more of their citizens. Even in Nova Scotia now, walking in the woods is not allowed without a huge fine. Walking apparently causes fires….in Canada.
We are walking a similar road, just not so far down this road.
Handwriting on the wall says Christians beware! End up like the Jews in Germany in the 1940’s maybe?
Canada ” fake north, weak and totalitarian, instead of True North Strong and Free”
Canada: When the Government controls your Freedom to Own Firearms to Defend Yourself, They Control your Right To Exist.
Theyll be happy to offer you an assisted death
Western Christianity has never been put to the test. It’s about to get its turn in the crucible.
I used to go to Whitehorse to skate in the winters.
I was surprised to find out there that Canada funds Catholic schools & other religious schools.
They do not have the (phony) Church/ State nonsense that out leftists enforce.
But I think the religious schools are on thin ice & have to be careful; if they preach against homosexuality they might wind up in jail.
PS: I think this is what Dunleavy wants here, state funding of private schools which I like.
But ….. once you take Gov money, the politicians will start bossing you around.
Careful “what we wish for”
Seems ironic that Alaskans who allowed Peoples’ Code Enforcement officers to close their churches in the name of China Flu hysteria should worry about the Canadian government imposing a fine on a church for hosting a worship service without a permit, no?
Would Canada fine an Islamic gathering? Zero chance. Canada’s cooked. First they come for the Saturday people, then the Sunday people. Canada has been colonized by Islam without a single shot fired.
An expected result of not having a Second Amendment.
To the Montreal mayor’s office: Where exactly were the “values of inclusion, solidarity, and respect” that you insist are championed in Montreal when the protesters shouted hateful things at Sean and even threw a smoke bomb? I’m still waiting for an answer.