City of Montreal sends a $2,500 ticket to the Ministerios Restauracion Church after it held a prayer service.
Montreal— The Ministerios Restauracion Church has received a ticket from the City of Montreal for allegedly using the Church for an "unauthorized purpose." The ticket fine amount is $2,500.
Ministerios Restauracion recently held a prayer service attended by US-based artist Sean Feucht. Prior to the service, police entered the Church and attempted to prevent it. Anti-Christian protesters set off a smoke bomb inside the Church in an attempt to intimidate Christian worshippers and prevent the prayer service from going ahead. The ticket was received today and is being reviewed by TDF lawyers for the Church.
It has been reported that a spokesperson for the Mayor's office stated that “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.”
Mark Joseph, litigation director for TDF, responded that "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 and indicative of bad faith. Canadians have a right to a fair trial and a right to freedom of religion under both the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms."
The translated ticket text reads: "Having occupied or authorized occupation of a lot, a building, or land in a given sector of use other than those provided for in the regulations."
About The Democracy Fund:
Founded in 2021, The Democracy Fund (TDF) is a Canadian charity dedicated to constitutional rights, advancing education, and relieving poverty. TDF promotes constitutional rights through litigation and public education and supports an access to justice initiative for Canadians whose civil liberties have been infringed by government lockdowns and other public policy responses to the pandemic.