Montreal Church Sues City Over Fine Following Sean feucht Concert
Ministerios Restauración, an evangelical church in Montreal, has launched a legal challenge against the City of montreal following a $2,500 fine issued after a concert featuring controversial Christian singer Sean Feucht. While Sean Feucht is not a plaintiff in the suit, he is named as a third party. The City of Montreal has declined to comment on the lawsuit and has yet to file a defense.
The fine was levied after the concert held at the church in late July. City officials initially justified the penalty by stating the church’s zoning regulations did not permit concerts and that the event contradicted Montreal’s “values of inclusion, solidarity and respect,” specifically citing intolerance for “hateful and discriminatory speech.”
However, Pastor Bernaby Quevedo contends the concert was an expression of worship, and therefore permissible under the church’s zoning, wich designates the building as a “place of worship and a convent.” He recounts an encounter with four municipal inspectors who arrived before the concert to warn of the impending fine, during which he attempted to explain this outlook. He stated the inspectors were unable to articulate how their definition of worship differed from the event.
Pastor Quevedo believes the City’s actions were not based on zoning regulations, pointing to concerts regularly held in churches throughout Montreal, but rather stemmed from objections to the invited performer. Sean Feucht has publicly criticized pride Month, describing it as an opportunity to identify those supporting a “demonic agenda” and has attracted attention for his alignment with the Trump administration, being labeled a “Christian nationalist” and “MAGA superstar” by The Atlantic magazine. Attempts to reach Feucht for comment were unsuccessful.
The church’s legal depiction, Olivier Séguin, argues the City’s actions – including public statements, the deployment of four inspectors, and the fine itself – constitute intimidation intended to appease public opinion.He notes the City had not previously raised any security concerns regarding the church.
The legal challenge is being supported by the Democracy Fund, a Canadian charity also providing funding for the appeal of Tamara Lich, convicted for her role in the 2022 “freedom convoy” protests in Ottawa.mark Joseph, a lawyer and director of litigation for the Democracy Fund, characterized the City’s conduct as “particularly scandalous,” emphasizing that Christian worship frequently incorporates music and singing. He questioned how the church could be found in violation of its building code, stating the City must prove that religious songs during worship are prohibited in Montreal and subject to a $2,500 fine.
The Legal Center for Constitutional freedoms is financing a separate lawsuit against the administration of Quebec city. Pastor Quevedo maintains his church welcomes individuals of all beliefs, and describes Feucht as “friendly and open to discussion.”
